COMMUNITY life has been resurrected with the reopening of a village post office in Copdock.The building, in Pearsons Way, had been vacant since the resignation of the former post mistress last October and after 15 months of frustration Sarah Barber, 37, of nearby Fenn View, decided it was time to take action.

COMMUNITY life has been resurrected with the reopening of a village post office in Copdock.

The building, in Pearsons Way, had been vacant since the resignation of the former post mistress last October. After 15 months of frustration Sarah Barber, 37, of nearby Fenn View, decided it was time to take action.

She said: "I was fed up with having to travel by car to our nearest post office in Capel, Chantry or Ipswich."

So using her own money and grants from the local parish council, the Post Office and the Countryside Commission, she has given the people of Copdock and Washbrook the convenience of a local post office once again.

"We are opening 9am till noon Monday to Friday and things have been going well. If the villagers want it I would consider opening full time in the future."

The building will also sell groceries and fresh bread as well as providing post office services.

Forty villagers toasted the grand opening on Tuesday morning with champagne.

Parish council chairman, Keith Armes, gave the opening speech wishing Sarah well and thanking her from the community. He said: "I would encourage people to use the new post office or we may lose it again in the future. It is a welcome part of the community."

Then Ella Dodd, aged nine, and Lucinda Loveday, six, untied the ribbon to officially open the new facility. They were given this honour after winning a competition at school to design a poster publicising the opening.