Farewell bid to Shoreham's closing post office

Loyal customers gathered to say farewell to her after the Post Office refused to bow to the enormous public pressure and watchdog Postwatch's recommendation to save the branch based in Martins in Upper Shoreham Road after a six-week consultation.

The branch closed at 1pm on Friday. The day before residents of St Nicolas Court sheltered housing opposite presented Caroline with a bouquet and a card to thank her for her help over the years.

Protesters had fought tirelessly to save the branch, backed by the Herald's Save Our Post Offices campaign and local MP Tim Loughton.

St Nicolas Court resident Stan Reed said: "Caroline was a wonderful post mistress and we will miss her.

"I don't know how some of the elderly residents here are going to cope without the post office because they can't walk or travel to the main one in the town centre.

"I have been using the post office opposite for six years and it is a real lifeline.

"We all wrote to the Post Office asking for it not to be closed and they ignored us."

Caroline who has worked in the sub-post office for four years has now been made redundant.

She said: "I will miss the customers and I feel sorry for the elderly ones, some who can hardly walk. I don't know how they will get on."

The shop Martins will continue to trade and will undergo a refurbishment.