BOLTON Post Office in Deansgate will close in August with services being handed over to a new business nearby.

The Post Office confirmed plans to create a new branch in 12 Oxford Street alongside a ‘newsagent’.

It says the move will “secure services for the future”.

A spokesman said: “The new premises will be completely refurbished with the Post Office in a dedicated area with six serving positions, alongside a retail offer of confectionery and news. “Opening hours will be significantly extended with services available from 8am until 6pm Monday to Fridays, 9am until 6pm on Saturdays and 11am until 4pm on Sundays.

“Overall, this makes Post Office services available to customers for an extra 13.5 hours per week.”

The current branch will remain open until 5.30pm on Wednesday, August 15, with the new branch opening the next day after at 9am.

The new business will be run by independent retailer Boltonn Ltd.

The Post Office said that the new branch will be located approximately 230 metres and a part of the refurbishment a new shop frontage will be installed.

The spokesman said: “To ensure good access for all Post Office customers the new branch will include low-level counters, PIN pads, hearing loops and customer seating.

“Post Office services will be unchanged, with the exception of the specialist biometric enrolment service on behalf of the Home Office.”

A war memorial is located in Bolton Post Office branch dedicated to those colleagues who worked for the organisation when it was known as the General Post Office, which included what is now Royal Mail.

The Post Office is working with Royal Mail to identify an appropriate place to relocate the memorial so that members of the public can continue to pay their respects to those who sacrificed their lives.

A re-dedication ceremony will take place once a new location has been identified.

During the consultation to re-locate Post Office services, 29 representatives were received and meetings held with the local authority and customers.

Positive feedback included that the new branch was more central, with better access and longer opening hours and concerns include the size and the impact of town centre events such as street markets.