Fears have been raised a Suffolk village could lose its 'lifeline' Post Office outreach service, forcing elderly and less mobile residents to have to travel to a nearby town.

A new postmaster is set to take over at Saxmundham Post Office towards the end of March, but a spokesperson for the firm said plans were still being 'finalised' for the outreach branches, which included Kelsale.

However, Carlton resident Maggie Strutt, who uses the Kelsale Post Office outreach service, was concerned other villages - including Snape, Yoxford, Wangford and Walberswick - would be getting a replacement mobile van from Ipswich for their outreach services, but not Kelsale.

READ MORE: No enforcement of post vans using Saxmundham public parking

The Kelsale outreach had been provided by the Saxmundham postmaster and she said the incoming postmaster was happy to continue the service.

She said: "Many of the Kelsale residents are elderly and/or disabled and many don’t have a car.

"Kelsale Post Office provides a chance to do banking when banks all around are closing. The Post Office is a lifeline.

"Saxmundham Post Office is in the busy High Street with no parking outside – pretty well impossible to access if of limited mobility.

READ MORE: Suffolk Post Offices see business increase as banks shut

"There has been no consultation about this and the villagers are most concerned."

She described the Kelsale outreach, which is provided every Wednesday morning, as 'vibrant, full of people and very busy'.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “Saxmundham Post Office is due to be taken over by a new postmaster towards the end of March.

READ MORE: Saxmundham news

"We are still finalising plans for the outreach branches that are currently operated by the Saxmundham branch.

"We will communicate the plans to the local community when confirmed.”

READ MORE: Suffolk news