The Post Office has announced its branch in Sible Hedingham will move to its new home at the village’s Londis supermarket in May – despite objections from the parish council and villagers.

The company says the move, to Londis in Swan Street, will happen on May 19 at 1pm.

The new branch will offer longer opening hours – an extra 72 hours a week including all-day Sunday morning and Saturday afternoons – and will open earlier and close later in the day.

The Post Office says this will make it more convenient for customers to use.

It says the new branch will be a modern open plan ‘local style branch’ with Post Office services delivered from a till alongside the convenience store’s counter.

The current branch, also in Swan Street, will close on Thursday May 18 at 5.30pm.

However, the decision to move the village’s Post Office has not been popular among residents since it was announced in January.

At the time of the announcement, Councillor Ron Volkwyn, Sible Hedingham’s Parish Council chairman, said: “It’s very sad that the Post Office has taken this decision.

“People are very unhappy in the village.”

The Post Office said it had received 12 individual responses from customers and local representatives during its public consultation on the plans.

It said customers had mainly commented on the suitability of the new premises, raising concerns that the garage forecourt was busy with limited parking.

However, it said the new operator is set to mark out a pedestrian walkway on the forecourt to provide a clear route from the pavement to the parking area and onto to the shop.

Suzanne Richardson, regional network manager for the Post Office, said the branch move is part of a major modernisation programme.

She said: “We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are for local residents.

“We are confident this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs.

“This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future.”