The long-awaited return of the main post office in Tenbury will reach its final hurdle this week with the opening of a formal consultation on its new location.

The Post Office is expected to open in January in the town’s Spar on Teme Street – eight months after Bowkett’s closed, leaving the town without a service.

Since then, West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has worked with the local management team to ensure the service was preserved and a temporary mobile service was offered for local residents.

Harriett commented: “This has been a very long saga but I am relieved that the consultation is finally open, allowing people to comment on the choice of location and the range of postal services offered at the Spar.

“I share the frustrations of local people about the delays getting to this point but, having kept a very close eye on this matter, I know how important it is for the Post Office to comply to the correct legal processes.

“Having chatted to the Spar staff, I know they are ready and eager to get going and once these formalities are completed, the new service can get underway. I’ve written to the consultation myself supporting this change and hoping for the return of full post office services as quickly as possible.

“This is great news for Tenbury and I look forward to visiting the store next month to see the new tills in operation.”