A £450,000 refurbishment of Newport's Bridge Street begins today.

The office will remain open and the work will be carried out after opening hours for the next two months.

As well as a full redecoration of all walls, floors and ceiling, the branch will have new lighting, open plan counter positions, seated areas, a new “Post and Go” facility for customers, a private Financial Services area, new Bureau de Change counter, and it will comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requirements.

Huw Roberts, Director of Welsh Affairs, Royal Mail Group said: “This is the first of our Crown Office branches in Wales on our UK refurbishment programme and will be the only one to undergo an extended scope of work."

The branch has 28 staff and a Post Office spokesman said it will be making every effort to ensure that any disruption to customers is kept to an absolute minimum, with the redecoration and reconstruction of the work being undertaken out of office hours.