A FORMER post office and shop is set to become houses, if planners agree.

The owner of the cottage which housed the two stores, in Church Lane, Mellor sold the post office side of the business to the nearby Spar, and closed the shop, with the loss of six jobs.

Kirsten Heys now wants to extend the building, and convert it to two homes.

One would be a three-bedroom property, and the other a two-bedroom property.

In a statement to Ribble Valley Council, Ms Heys’ agent, Robert Jopling, said the post office and store had ‘for many years’ prov-ided a service to Mellor, and the surrounding population.

He said: “However, over time the business became unprofitable.

“The post office part of the business had to become supportive to the shop income.

“The ultimate decision was to market the premises and business for sale.”

After listing the business with two estate agents, the only offer came from Spar.

Mr Jopling added: “Spar was interested in the post office bus-iness alone, additionally impos-ing a caveat that the owners of the shop should agree not to re-establish trading.”

Mellor councillor Stella Brunskill said: “The post office has moved to the Spar.

“We were sorry to see it go.

“It closed around three months ago.

“It was well used and very handy for people.

“The Spar is not as handy for people who walk, but the serv-ice is still there, and the staff are very nice.

“We have not lost the amenity.

“Although we would have wanted it to remain in an old cottage, we can’t stop progress.

“We have to move with the times.”