PLANS have been unveiled to relocate a north Durham post office with longer hours and Sunday opening.

The Post Office is proposing to move Burnhope Post Office from its present location at 3 Pavillion Place to Helen’s Top Shop in Holmeside Lane – 240m away.

The company is now inviting customers and interested parties to give their comments on the move in a six-week public consultation.

Should the move go ahead, the branch would open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Sunday. This would offer an extra 48 hours of Post Office service every week.

Regional manager Suzanne Richardson said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Burnhope and we are confident that this new modern Post Office service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future."

She added: “This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

During the public consultation, Post Office Ltd welcomes feedback on any issues customers would like considered before a final decision is taken on this proposal.

The consultation will close on 20 February 2015. Submissions can be made during the consultation by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline on 08457-223-344 or Textphone 08457 22 33 55.

Customers can also share their views online at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 159313.