THE relocation of a key Blackburn post office has been given a stamp of approval – and will now offer Sunday postal services.

The standalone Whalley Range base closed in March but a new one will be located inside the KQF Halal Superstore, with longer opening hours.

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The new and improved facility will open seven days a week, on Mondays to Fridays it will be open from 7am until 10pm, on Saturdays from 8am until 9pm, and on Sundays from 9am-9pm.

It will still be offering facilities to pay bills, bank, collect benefits and convert currencies as well as withdrawals using a Post Office Card Account, send funds abroad using Moneygram or apply for travel insurance and top up mobile phones.

There will also be opportunities for residents to return home-shopping parcels and collect deliveries. The service will be provided at two open-plan counters in the store, where the Post Office terminals will sit alongside the shop’s till.

Councillor Solly Khonat, who represents Shear Brow ward, believes that the move into a halal supermarket will take some getting used to.

He said: “It’s really sad to see something going.

“I remember the Post Office 40 years ago, it was one of the best in Lancashire.

“I think in terms of the facilities in the area the new location couldn’t be better.

“People do use it to buy vegetables now.

“I think the residents will get used to it in time.

“I just hope that the owners take the whole community into account.”

The date for the service station relocation has yet to be confirmed.

Adrian Wales, who is the regional manager for the Post Office, said: “We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents.

“We are confident that this vibrant, new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs.

“This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future.

“This investment marks a commitment to our ‘no more branch closure’ scheme.”

The Cherry Street Post Office nearby also moved recently to the 24-hour Furthergate Service Station where it continues to operate.