A VITAL Post Office service is set to return to a Borders village.

Post Office services were put on hold at Scottish Borders Council headquarters (SBC HQ) as the coronavirus pandemic forced the Newtown St Boswells site to close.

Services which will be available from the Post Office counter will include: letter and parcel services, foreign exchange including a Travel Money card, online shopping returns, bill payments, and banking services.

The Newtown counter will be managed by Lynn Ferguson who is also in charge of Denholm Post Office and two mobile Post Office vans which serve 16 communities around the Borders.

Ms Ferguson said: “I know how important Post Office services are to the people in their local communities, so many people still prefer to do things in person, I’m very pleased we were able to reopen the branch in SBC headquarters to give that option.”

The SBC HQ counter will be open on Mondays from 10am-1pm, Tuesdays from 1-4pm, and Thursdays from 10am-12pm – offering eight hours of services a week,

David Robertson, SBC chief executive, said: “We are delighted the Post Office services have been restored to Newton St Boswells and surrounding area.

"We know how important a Post Office is to a community.

"The Post Office opening hours and the central location will make it convenient for customers.”

Post Office customers can also make use of the newly opened café which can be found in the SBC HQ reception area.

The café is open Tuesday to Thursday, 9am to 2pm.

Other nearby Post Office in-store services include: Main Street, St Boswells; Midlem, Selkirk; and Langlee, Galashiels.

Mobile services can be found in Bowden, Melrose, Earlston, Lilliesleaf, and Tweed Road.

For more information on Post Office services, find your nearest branch and opening times, visit the Post Office's website.