TYE Green Post Office has opened its doors to the public once more for the first time in a year, with a new sub-postmaster at the helm.
The re-opening earlier this month will see vital service returned to the rural location after a temporary closure for "operational reasons" in May last year.
Neel Sudamalai, 35, from Cressing, has taken on the role of the new sub-postmaster for the post office in Evelyn Wood Road, Braintree, since July 1.
"The post office was closed for a year at least, so it will take a while to build up and get repeat customers, but it's good for the area to be open again.
"It will help local people be able to get their pension and do their banking," said Mr Sudamalai.
The store is open 31 hours a week longer than previously, opening Monday to Saturday at 6.30am to 8pm and on Sundays from 7am to 4pm.
Mr Sudamalai, along with wife Sopana, have been living in Cressing for nearly four years and have worked in retail in a number of different shops, both large and small.
The pair run the post office by themselves – with the help of only one part-time employee, Kumar Mugan.
Mr Sudamalai said: "If we get more customers in then we may look to get more staff in, but we don't want to hire someone, then have to let them go if it's not busy.
"We are glad to get the post office back open and possibly get all the services for the town again – it's good for the customers and it's good for us as well.
"At the end of the day it's a challenge and it's not going to happen straight away.
"Retail will be slow at first and it might take a year or so, but we had to make sure we could provide the service, then look at how we can improve services and how we can deliver the best for customers," he added.
This is part of a three-year investment from the Post Office to modernise 6,000 branches.
Mark Lawrence, Post Office regional network manager for south and east England, said: "We understand how important having a post office is to residents in Tye Green and I know that the local community will join me in welcoming this good news about the re-opening of this post office.
"This new modern post office will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future."
