The Post Office is struggling to restore services at a local village, seven months after the branch was closed ‘temporarily’.

How Wood Post Office was shut on April 8 this year because the postmaster resigned and withdrew the premises for postal use.

Since then, the Post Office has been looking at options to return services to villagers.

In a letter to St Albans district council, outlining its problems in securing new premises, the organisation confirmed it hoped to deliver services in an established retail outlet as it has done elsewhere in the UK.

While a representative has personally visited How Wood to try and find a local business interested in offering postal services to the community, “unfortunately to date we have received no formal applications for the position”.

The Post Office apologised to the council for taking so much time to restore the branch, “and for the inconvenience the ongoing temporary closure is causing to our customers.

“Thank you for your continued patience during the time taken to resolve the situation.”

Speaking about the lack of a postal branch in How Wood at a scrutiny committee meeting on Thursday November 5, Cllr Robert Donald said he hoped the Post Office would find a suitable unit to resume services.