THE Blaenavon subpostmaster has given the world heritage town a reprieve by agreeing to keep its last remaining post office open until next spring.

Chris Rowles, 54, planned to shut his post office in Prince Street, Blaenavon, last Tuesday [November 25] but had a change of heart despite falling revenue at his branch.

Mr Rowles said he was left with “less than the minimum wage” after paying all his bills and outgoings each month.

But he also said: “I didn’t want to see Blaenavon without a post office.

“I’m Blaenavon born and bred. I have lived in Blaenavon all my life.

"I am now prepared to wait until the spring.

"I am giving management another four or five months.

“I wouldn’t be able to hold my head up if I hadn’t.”

Post Office chiefs were unable to find a new outlet to provide post office services in the town before he handed in his notice.

But they said last week they were in negotiations with an “existing retailer” to open a new branch in the town centre, giving residents a glimmer of hope.

Mr Rowles said that he had been approached by the unnamed retailer who had asked him about the running of his branch, which first opened in 1937.

He said his income was diminishing "almost on a monthly basis".

He blamed reforms of the Post Office network for the falling revenue, saying bosses had cut the guaranteed income on post office products such as motor vehicle licences.

Mr Rowles indicated the reforms meant it was increasingly difficult for subpostmasters in stand alone post offices to make a living and that the new model was more suited for branches inside corner shops or mini supermarkets.

More than 180 branches in the country have been revamped since the Post Office launched a transformation programme in 2012.

The Post Office said that new operators were typically reporting an increase in both their Post Office and associated retail business of around 10 per cent following modernisation of their branch.

A Post Office spokesman said: "We are delighted that the existing subpostmaster at Blaenavon has agreed to continue to operate the branch from the existing premises.

"We are aware that our agent would like to leave and we are in discussion with an interested party over taking on the service in the town centre.

"Any proposed relocation of the service will be subject to a six-week public consultation period."