A NEW mobile post office will be set up to serve rural communities in north Essex and West Suffolk.

The scheme will be run and operated by Finchingfield Post Office in an effort to reconnect villages and hamlets which have little access to postal services.

The mobile project will see a specially designed vehicle driven around to different locations on different days.

Residents will be able to drop their parcels and letters off at the vehicle and save them travelling long distances.

The vehicle is set to the communities of Ashdon, Carver Barracks, Widdington and Great Sampford on Tuesdays, and Thurlow, Kedington, Cavendish and Cornish Hall End on Wednesdays.

It will also make trips to Helions Bumpstead, Castle Camps, West Wickham and Weston Colville on Thursdays.

Wendy Hamilton, Post Office change manager, said: “We are delighted to be able to restore Post Office service to so many rural communities with the introduction of this brand-new Mobile Post Office service.”

The mobile service is due to begin in the week commencing November 2.

Post Office bosses have launched a consultation on the scheme in a bid to make tweaks to locations and visiting days.

They want residents to give feedback on the proposals, with the consultation ending on November 5.