RESIDENTS of a Ryedale village have welcomed the news that their local post office will move.

Thornton-le-Dale Post Office, in Maltongate, will move to the newsagents, the Wardill Bros, in the square, as of next month.

Barry Whittaker, who has run the post office for the past six years with his wife, Christine, said that once the post office has moved he will consider retiring.

Now aged 68, Barry said that he will work at the new post office for the first three months following the move but said that the move would work out well for the villagethe best thing to happen to the village.

He said: “It is the best thing that could happen to the village as it means it will be a big step forward.

“It will mean that the post office is open the same hours that Wardill’s is. We see it as a big improvement.”