A VILLAGE postmistress has swapped social work for selling stamps in her search for a change of lifestyle.

Former social worker Pam Mallinson has taken over Bulmer Post Office, near Malton, with high hopes of extending the business.

Part of the premises has been revamped as a larger tea room offering home-made treats, and there are more plans to develop a building at the back of the post office.

Pam said: "There was a tea room in there before, but it was very dark and was cramped with shelves filled with expensive gifts. Now I have a log fire burning away, proper tablecloths and home-made cakes and biscuits."

Pam said customers had given her a great welcome, with walkers and farm workers making a beeline for the tea room. "The farm workers do their best when they are coming in to wipe their boots on the grass outside, and they are lovely customers."

Pam, who has also been a probation officer and worked for a year for the Royal Engineers, said she was looking forward to the new challenges.

"I wanted a lifestyle change - I have always wanted to run a tea room and I enjoy crafts myself. "Social work is quite stressful and I wanted to be my own boss instead of working for a huge organisation. The extra beauty of this place is that there's a barn at the back. I am planning to open it up as a craft barn where local artists can display their work."

Updated: 10:02 Thursday, March 13, 2003