BAD feeling over the axing of a village post office has led to the cancellation of a ceremony to start a replacement service.

Richard Cornwell

BAD feeling over the axing of a village post office has led to the cancellation of a ceremony to start a replacement service.

A high-tech van will tomorrow take over as the new post office in Nacton.

But because the community is reeling from the loss of its full-time service, sub postmaster Simon Cudworth has already had to cancel his planned official opening of his new outreach service.

Residents campaigned to keep the post office but it was axed along with others in the county.

Mr Cudworth, who will run a mobile outreach service in Nacton from 8.30am to 10.30am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, had invited Ipswich mayor David Hale, to open the service.

He said: “When I mentioned it to people in the village they didn't think it was a good idea - they said there was a lot of bad feeling at the moment and it might be better to start off quietly and see how it goes.

“I am hoping everything will be OK and that people will support the mobile post office.

“It's better to have something in a village rather than having to travel to Ipswich or Felixstowe.

“I am starting off with two hours on four mornings each week but I am quite flexible and can do extra hours if there is a demand.”

The post office van is the first of its kind in the region and is fully equipped with everything needed to run a full service.

Via GPS and computer links it can handle all normal banking transactions, currency exchange, passports, car tax and other services.

Mr Cudworth, sub postmaster at Cliff Lane Post Office in Ipswich, already runs outreach services at Sutton, Ufford and Waldringfield, but from premises in those villages.

He added: “For example, I use the village hall at Waldringfield, which is always very busy with something going on and is the hub of the community. In Nacton, the post office tried everywhere but couldn't find any premises so decided to use a van.”