A celebration has been held to mark the official opening of North Seaton Post Office after it was integrated into SPAR North Seaton.

The move has restored Post Office services to the community while the SPAR store has enjoyed the benefit of several store improvements.

The store, at 2-4 Meadowfield, is the 39th James Hall & Co. Ltd company-owned SPAR to have a Post Office.

Company Stores Director Fiona Drummond attended the launch and cut the ribbon to officially open North Seaton Post Office and the refitted store. A special cake was also made to mark the occasion and was enjoyed by customers and staff.

Fiona said: “Our refitted store looks great. We are really delighted to have added North Seaton Post Office as we know how vital Post Office services are to a community.

“The whole store is lighter, brighter, and airier. Excited customers have been coming in to see all the improvements.

“Customers have been eagerly awaiting having a Post Office again for sending letters and parcels, home shopping returns, bill payment, mobile top ups, and free cash withdrawals.

“There are also no banks in the area, so it is very handy that people can do their banking on behalf of all the major high street banks here – that saves so much time and effort.”

Hazel Thompson lives locally and is impressed with the store changes. She said: “I’ve been shopping at the SPAR for 20 years and the Post Office is a great addition to the store.

“It is so useful to have it on the doorstep as it isn’t very easy to get on a bus and travel to another one.

“I really like the changes to the store itself as well. It looks so much better and there is a lot more range to choose from.”

The Post Office counter is alongside the retail counter several members of the SPAR team are fully trained to operate it.

SPAR North Seaton is open from 7am until 10pm seven days a week. The opening hours for North Seaton Post Office are Monday to Friday: 9am – 5:30pm; Saturday: 9am – 1pm; Sunday: 11am – 2pm. This provides 49 hours and 30 minutes of Post Office service a week for customers.

James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business. The company serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.

For more information about James Hall & Co. Ltd, please visit www.jameshall.co.uk.