VILLAGERS left facing a long trek to pick up their pensions or stock up on groceries have been given new hope that their misery will soon be at an end.

As revealed in the Evening Press, the Post Office warned it could be some time before its branch at Rufforth, near York, reopened.

The shop and post office closed unexpectedly last week when the owner, Andrew Baird, abandoned it to care for his wife, who is recovering from major surgery.

Villagers are having to travel to York or to nearby villages for post office facilities and Jenny Bradley, a spokeswoman for Post Office Counters, said there was no telling when it would open again, if at all.

She said the Post Office's hands were tied because the shop was privately owned and it would be up to the new owner to decide whether to take on the post office service.

But now businessman Colin Cain and his brother, Michael, have stepped into the breach in an effort to get the Rufforth branch up and running again "as soon as possible".

Mr Cain, who, together with his brother runs Walmgate Property Services in York, said a price had been agreed between the company and Mr Baird for the freehold of the building.

"The funds are there," said Mr Cain. "We are just waiting for the solicitors to act and for the contracts to be signed.

"We expect it to be open again as a shop as soon as it has been confirmed and as a post office once everything has been sanctioned by Post Office Counters."

Mr Cain said staff would be employed to run the shop on behalf of Walmgate Property Services.

Mr Baird, 49, apologised to his customers following the unexpected closure of the shop. His wife, Joan, 44, is recovering after two liver transplants, kidney failure and after suffering two collapsed lungs.

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