A COUPLE who stepped in to save their village post office from closure are making a success of it – with the help of a lending library they have launched.

Daphne and Pete Bowman were saddened when it was announced nine months ago that the service was to end at Bowes, near Barnard Castle, because no one could be found to run it.

Mrs Bowman, 72, volunteered at the last minute to become sub-postmistress with her husband helping to run a connected small shop.

The couple have seen takings improve in the past three months after they put 500 books on their shelves and began lending them out in return for charity donations.

Mr and Mrs Bowman raised £72 in the first month for Butterwick Hospice, then almost £70 in the second month for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Donations in the third month went to the Royal British Legion, which has not yet revealed the total.

“But apart from the cash, the books have raised a lot of interest in the shop,” said Mrs Bowman, a greatgrandmother.

“People are coming in all the time to find something to read.

They put any sum they want into a box.

“They can also buy any of the books if they wish, and put in an extra amount. We don’t keep a check on what anyone pays, but it all mounts up nicely.”

She said that if a few customers come in, they usually pick up a book while waiting to be served – and after glancing through them often take them home.

The couple took many of the volumes from their home in the village, and friends gave others.

Mrs Bowman ran the post office for ten years until retiring in 2004.

“I felt it would be dreadful to leave the village without a post office, so I came back in at the last moment,”

said Mrs Bowman. “Pete and I enjoy it and will keep on for the foreseeable future.

“But I would love to see a younger person taking over in the long term.”