A PUB landlady has won her campaign to open a village post office behind the bar - but strictly outside opening hours for serving pints.

Villagers at Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, are celebrating a decision that the Crown Inn will also become their post office from June 1, when selling stamps and pulling pints will all be part of a day in the life of landlady Katherine Furmidge.

The 29-year-old landlady faces a hectic time during the next few weeks. On Tuesday she goes into hospital at Northallerton for the expected delivery of a baby girl.

She had hoped the office could open earlier to maintain a continous service for the community, after the former office closed down because the family involved is moving away.

Mrs Furmidge had applied to take over the service two months ago - before closure of the former office just over 100 yards away, which was held in the porch of a cottage.

"People were disappointed that the service could not continue without a break, but I have only just been given the go- ahead to take over," she said.

"It has meant people travelling to Kirkby Malzeard or Masham. Some pensioners without transport have had to get other people to collect their pensions," said Mrs Furmidge.

Apart from laying down strict rules that pensions and pints must not be mixed, Post Office Counter officials have insisted that advertising for beer and spirits must not be displayed near the portable post office counter.

The new office will open Tuesdays to Fridays, from 10am until noon. As soon as the shutters come down on the post office, it will be opening time at the pub.

Villagers' fears that they would be left without a post office arose when the previous postmistress, Samantha Buckingham, resigned after three years because her family are moving to Minorca. Residents then persuaded Mrs Furmidge to take on the task.

A Post Office spokesman said that they were keen to keep a service going in the village, which does not have a local shop.

Councillor Peter Lofthouse, parish council chairman, said there was great support in the village for keeping the post office service running