A POST office is set to move into a Blackburn petrol station, creating a community hub open until 11pm seven days a week.

The Cherry Street facility will close this month — but shortly afterwards it will reopen 300m away at the 24-hour Furthergate Service Station.

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Hanif Master, who manages the garage, said new employees will be brought in by the Post Office to run the new services from March 17.

He said: “Customers will be getting a good service. We will be delivering all of the services people need including taking parcels and doing all of the regular post.

“Hopefully, it means people can do everything in one place and save them time.

“It is excellent news for us and it is good for the community.”

Cllr Salim Sidat, who represents the Audley ward, said having lots of facilities under one roof would be great for people living in the area.

He said: “It is great to have these services for the local community.

“It is very important and I am glad that even though the post office is moving, it is not far and the community will still be able to use it.

“There will be a continuous service because we did not want the local people not to have it for a couple of weeks.”

The increased opening hours will mean the post office will be available for an extra 58 hours and 30 minutes a week.

Cllr Sidat said: “The post office is important to local people. There is quite a large elderly community around there and they use it maybe two or three times a week.

“People can go along and get help with their council tax or housing benefits. Businesses in the area use it too. It will be great to have the post office in the petrol station. They already have a mini supermarket in there and now it will be even more convenient for people.”

The services on offer will include special delivery, local collect, home shopping returns, cash deposits and withdrawals. Customers will also be able to send funds abroad using Moneygram, pay bills, pre-order travel money, apply for travel insurance and top up mobile phones.

Adrian Wales, Post Office regional manager, 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.”

A public consultation on the possible relocation of the Whalley Range post office is due to start next week.