People in Sheringham will soon be able to go to a Post Office in their town centre again.

The new owners of Barney’s newsagents have agreed to run a Post Office counter inside their Station Road store. 

Jigen and Nisha Patel, both 42, said they were delighted to be able offer Post Office services, and said the counter would open as early as mid-March.

Mr Patel said: “When we took over this business our aim was to support the community.

“We knew that the town was lacking a Post Office, but when we first tried to apply there was no advertisement on their website. So we got the number of Matt Hatfull, the project manager, spoke to him and everything took place. 

“Now we are training, everything is going well and we’re looking forward to the opening date. They are saying it will be hopefully mid or the end of March.”

The town’s former Post Office was located inside the Starlings store in the High Street, but this desk closed when postmaster David Starling retired at the end of April last year. 

A temporary branch was later opened inside the community centre in Holway Road, but this suffered some criticism as it is outside the town centre.

Peter Ratcliffe, town mayor, said on behalf of Sheringham Town Council: “We are delighted that Mr and Mrs Patel have come forward to provide this important service at their town centre shop Barney’s. We wish them well in this new venture.”

The Patels took over Barney’s on September 30 last year. Mr Patel was formerly a store manager at a Co-op supermarket for 20 years in south-east London. Mrs Patel worked in Co-op management for 15 years, and then worked in the NHS as a receptionist for five years.

Mr Patel said Barney's seemed like a perfect location for a Post Office.

“It is in the middle of everything and it will be convenient for everyone,” he said.

Duncan Baker, North Norfolk MP, called the agreement a “win-win” for everybody.

He said: “Our patience has paid off and we got the right result in the end.”