A COMMUNITY in Abergavenny is celebrating 18 months of running its own post office and shop.

The Bryn lost its Post Office in September 2004 when the sub postmaster retired and stopped operating a service from his home.

But through gathering funds from grant bodies and help from Rural Community Action's Richard Lewis and residents, local people were able to launch a new service in September 2006. The shop now opens seven days a week.

Volunteer worker at the Post Office and shop Hazel Charles said: "There are around 100 houses here and 50% of these are owned by elderly people.

"We are quite isolated so the service is invaluable to the community as we always know when someone is poorly or on holidays.

"At times it felt like we were walking on treacle and felt like giving up, but it took two years of concerted effort and what we have done shows what can be achieved if enough people are determined to achieve their aims."

Around £3,000 was collected from local people through a loan system to get the venture off the ground. The money can be repaid after two years if the people wish.

It operates from the old Bryn School site, with six volunteers running the shop that helps to pay rent for the premises to Monmouthshire County Council.

The Post Office now employs a sub post mistress Carol Mainwaring who works 9am to 11am week days and for a couple of hours over the weekend.

She said: "There are many elderly people here and as we are four miles from Abergavenny, it proves of great benefit to the community."

The post office makes a small profit - bucking the trend nationally.

The Post Office has cited losses of between £3 million and £4 million annually as the reason behind wanting to close more than 20 Post Offices around Gwent.