A VILLAGE post office has a new home – in the parish church.

Ugborough has been without a post office since September last year and St Peter's Church decided to take up the reigns and run the service at the back of the church.

The previous subpostmaster, who retired aged 90, had been running the service from his home in the village square.

The grand opening at St Peter's took place last Thursday, and the post office will now be open every Thursday from 10am to 2pm, providing the majority of regular post office services.

The opening times will coincide with the church coffee morning.

Churchwarden Jeremy Wells, who initiated the project to provide the service from the church, said: 'We are delighted to be able to offer the service, and we hope it will be a big success.

'It has taken lots of hard work and patience as we began the project about a year ago.

'But it is wonderful to see the service reopen in Ugborough today.'

St Peter's vicar, Father Harry Jevons, said: 'It is a great opportunity to have the post office in the church and, hopefully, we can bring more people into our wonderful church.

'The diocese have been very supportive throughout the entire project.'

St Peters is steeped in history, having been originally built in 1121, and it still retains a 14th century screen.

Ugborough parish and South Hams district councillor Tom Holway said: 'It was a shame to see the old post office go but this is a great way of providing the service for the people of Ugborough.'

A spokesman from the post office said: 'We are pleased to announce that post office services are being restored to the local community in Ugborough – thanks to a little divine help from the local church.

'Ugborough post office – previously located at The Square – will open for business once a week from St Peter's Church.

Subpostmistress Tina Debenham, who will run the service at Ugborough from her main office at Elburton post office, said: 'We are delighted to be able to restore services to the local residents. I look forward to meeting them. I am very excited about it.'

Post office manager Colin Pound said: 'I would like to thank local residents for their patience during the recent temporary break in service following the retirement of the former subpostmaster.

'We hope that all our customers will support the new post office service.'

The area at the back of the church, where the post office operates, is also used widely within the community for meetings and children's games and activities.