A?NEW mobile Post Office, serving seven rural communities, has been officially opened.

Scott Mann, North Cornwall Conservative MP, cut the ribbon last Friday, alongside postmaster Darren Wills, at St Breward.

The travelling Post Office, which is aboard a specifically designed vehicle, now delivers vital Post Office services to people in St Merryn, St Issey, St Kew Highway, Tintagel, South Petherwin, Port Isaac and Rock all within Mr Mann’s constituency.

This is the first time that a Post Office mobile van vehicle has operated on a permanent basis in Cornwall.

The mobile service can offer a wide range of services including banking on behalf of all the major banks, postal, foreign currency and financial services

Mr Mann said: “I am delighted that the first permanent Post Office mobile service restores vital Post Office services to seven communities in my constituency. The mobile service offers a wide range of services, which will really benefit these rural communities, including banking on behalf of all the major banks.”

Postmaster Darren Wills and his team will operate the mobile service and provide a real lifeline to many Cornish communities.

Last year, Mr Wills, who is a local man and publican of The Old Inn & Restaurant St Breward for 18 years, saved his local village shop and Post Office from closing.

When the previous postmaster wanted to retire Mr Wills extended his double garage at the pub to host and relocate the newly built St Breward Stores and Post Office which opened in June 2017.

Mr Wills said: “People are so delighted with the new Post Office mobile. They feel that it is a real lifesaver to their rural communities. They really appreciate the service.”

Sarah Cottrell, Post Office network operations area manager, said: “Since the closure of Post Office services at these Cornish communities we worked hard to find a solution to enable us to restore services. A Post Office Mobile service is a tried and tested way of maintaining service to smaller communities in other parts of the UK.”

Post Office Ltd now has 59 Post Office mobile services across the UK.