PUB regulars waited patiently for their pints while landlady Katherine Furmidge finished her new first-class delivery for villagers - a post office behind the counter.

The Crown Inn, at Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, stepped into the breach as home for the village post office after the closure of the former part-time post office, in the porch of a cottage.

It was then that Mrs Furmidge and partner Steve Kennedy decided to set up a post office in the pub.

There was not exactly a rush on the first day - just four customers. But Mrs Furmidge has no doubts business will improve.

Because of the delay between opening the new post service in the pub and closure of the former office, locals had to get their pensions at other centres. Now the service is up and running, they are switching payments to their local.

The new office opens Tuesday to Friday, 10am to noon. But officials insist business cannot be conducted while pints are being served.

So the drinkers must wait until the post office counter shuts at noon.

Eager regulars were there a little early on the opening day. "I had to tell them to be patient and wait until I had changed my post office hat for the landlady's role," said Mrs Furmidge.

"But they waited in good humour until the postal counter was shut away and then pints could be pulled."

The 29-year-old landlady is celebrating her own special delivery. Just five weeks ago she gave birth to Ghislaine, who weighed in at 6lbs 9oz, making it a hectic time for the family.

A Post Office official said it was pleased that the service had restarted, because it was particularly keen to ensure it continued in a community which does not have its own shop.