A POST Office is to close at the end of this month.

East Linton Post Office, on High Street, shuts in just over four weeks’ time, leaving residents with a trip to Haddington, North Berwick or Dunbar to access the service.

Judith Priest, chairwoman of Dunpender Community Council, was disappointed to lose the Post Office.

She said: “It will be greatly missed. It is used a lot by elderly people and everybody really, but obviously not enough people.

“Unless some other business is interested in taking it on then there is not really anything that can be done.

“The community council have written to the Post Office saying we are hoping they are looking for a new franchisee and we have contacted economic development at the council to see if they can do anything but we are not really sure what we can do.”

A Post Office spokesman said they were working to try to find a potential solution to see the facility remain in the village.

He said: “We can confirm that the postmaster at East Linton Post Office has given us notice they are leaving the network on February 28.

“We understand and appreciate how much communities rely on our services and customers should be assured that the Post Office is committed to maintaining a Post Office service in East Linton and will work hard to ensure this.

“We are currently assessing options to maintain service while we work to identify a permanent solution for Post Office customers in in the area.”

Iain Gray, East Lothian MSP, was disappointed to hear of the upcoming closure.

He said: “It was only a few years ago that East Linton’s Royal Bank of Scotland branch closed, so it is worrying to hear that it now faces losing its Post Office as well. Like most areas in the county, the village has a growing population and cannot afford to lose more vital local services.

“I will be contacting Post Office Ltd to ask what is happening and urge it to do everything possible to retain a service in the village.”

Ward councillor Paul McLennan added: “Hopefully, somebody is coming forward [to run a Post Office service].

“It is a growing community, with housing approved, and more people will go in.

“We have got the railway station campaign going on as well.

“East Linton is a very vibrant community and has an active community council.”

Departing East Linton postmaster Chris Park declined to comment on the closure when contacted by the Courier.