The opening date of Sheringham's new town centre Post Office has been revealed.

The Post Office said the new branch counter inside Barney's newsagents in Station Road would open for the first time on Friday, March 17 at 1pm.

The branch will be open 54.5 hours a week - 24.5 hours more than the current, temporary counter in the foyer of Sheringham Community Centre.

This branch, in Holway Road, will close on March 16, at 5pm.

Matt Hatfull, Post Office network provision lead, said: “We are very grateful to Sheringham Town Council for allowing us to operate this temporary Post Office until we were able to open a permanent new Post Office.

"The opening hours will also make it very convenient to visit.”

The new branch will be operated by Jigen and Nisha Patel, who took over Barney's on September 30.

It will be open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5.30pm and on Saturday from 8am to 3pm.

Mr Patel, 42, 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."

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.

 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.

People will be able to give their feedback on the plans from February 7 to March 7, online at postofficeviews.co.uk (using the branch code 219501), by email comments@postoffice.co.uk, by post to Freepost YOUR COMMENTS, or by phone 03452 660115.

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.