A North Yorkshire village post office which shut down last year is to reopen this week.

The office in Marton, near Sinnington, closed in November when the subpostmistress resigned.

But now community-spirited Hayley Turnbull has stepped forward to run the service from her home.

She said: "I have recently had a baby and I just thought this would be a good way for me to combine work with being a mum and to provide the village with a post office again." The office, which has relocated to Mrs Turnbull's home at The Newlands, in Marton, will open on Thursday.

Its opening hours will be from 9am to 1.30pm and 4pm to 4.30pm on Mondays and Thursdays.

Bill Earnshaw, rural transfer advisor for the Post Office, said: "We are confident our customers will be equally delighted to have the post office restored to the area and we wish Mrs Turnbull all the very best with this new venture."

Updated: 11:38 Tuesday, April 17, 2001