VILLAGE sub-postmaster Ken Hayward is waiting to see if he will win his test case for being paid the minimum wage, which could affect postmasters across the country.

Mr Hayward, who runs a general store and post office counter at his home in Holden Street, Belthorn, is calling for the minimum wage for his 47-hour working week and other staff benefits. His case was heard at a tribunal in Manchester and was adjourned and rescheduled until November 17, when evidence will be heard from the Post Office Network, formerly Post Office Counters.

The case hinges on whether or not postmasters are classed as workers or self-employed.

Mr Hayward, who first brought the case to tribunal in October 1999, says that if they are classed as workers, they should be entitled to the minimum wage and paid holidays.

He said that in the past the Post Office topped up his earnings to match the Government minimum -- but this is at the end of the year and does not include holiday pay or the cost of stand-in staff.

Speaking after the Manchester hearing, Mr Hayward said: "It went fairly well. We got most of our points across. Now it is really up to the legal team and their understanding of the law."

A Post Office spokesman said: "The nation's 17,000 sub-postmasters have always been considered agents of the Post Office. "Their contracts specifically state that they are not required to provide the service in person.

"They can therefore run their own retail business alongside their post office business and many sub-postmasters chose to run more than one office. As they are agents, people who run sub post offices are not, in our view, covered by minimum wage legislation.

"However, the Post Office has always recognised the National Minimum wage legislation is an issue for some sub-postmasters in respect of the costs they face in running their business."