A MEON Valley village is finally to have a post office again - in a pub.

Landlord Martin Juden is optimistic the pub and post office combination at The Bakers Arms in Droxford will go down a treat after 18 months without a post office.

Now the 52-year-old, who is also going to be the new sub postmaster, is making the final preparations for the long-awaited opening on Thursday.

"As the new post office is situated in the same building as the pub, customers will be able to enjoy a pint and a packet of crisps before or after coming into the post office," he said.

"The village has lost seven shops in the last ten years. I want to increase the facilities in the village for everyone," said Mr Juden.

He is also going to convert part of the pub into a grocery store, two bungalows and two flats.

Despite suffering numerous setbacks during the past year over planning issues, Mr Juden was always determined to bring the much-missed post office back to the village. His original application to convert part of his pub into a sub post office, shop and three houses was turned down by Winchester City Council planners.

Amended plans finally got the go-ahead in January.

Mr Juden made the application after Droxford's general store - containing the sub post office - closed in November 2001.

The new post office in the pub will be open from Monday to Friday from 9am-5.30pm and on Saturday from 9am-12.30pm.

Customers will be able to make bill payments, carry out banking services, obtain benefit payments and get motor vehicle licences.

Royal Mail spokesman Don Veale said: "It has always been our committed intention to have a post office back at Droxford and now that it is, it is very appropriate that the occasion can be properly toasted."