THE Prime Minister has said she recognises the role post offices play in rural communities, such as Camelford.

Theresa May was quizzed on the ‘significant challenges’ with the rural post office network by North Cornwall Conservative MP Scott Mann during Prime Minister’s Questions earlier this month.

Mr Mann said: “We are facing significant challenges with our rural post office network at the moment, with the transition from community branches to community village stores and community buildings. Some of those moves have been smooth and some have not. Will she take a look at that to see whether there is anything more the Government could do to help my constituents?”

Mrs May responded: “My hon friend makes an important point. It is right that we should recognise the role that post offices play in rural communities, and not only in places such as Camelford and St Minver in his constituency, but in the constituencies of other hon members.

“We have invested more than £2-billion in the network up to 2018. The number of post offices is actually at its most stable for decades. But he is absolutely right. I urge the Post Office to help make it as easy as possible for shops that want to take over postal services to be able to do so.”