Post offices get stamp of approval

THOUSANDS of post office users have nominated branches in East Anglia as among the best in the country.

Post offices in Suffolk and Essex are among nine from the region to be shortlisted in the search to find the best office in the United Kingdom.

More than 18,000 votes were received for post offices in the south east region and there are 18 in the regional final.

The Post Office said the amount of votes cast demonstrated the high levels of support from customers who wanted to praise the service they received at their local branch.

The nominations included Copdock post office, Ipswich, Wivenhoe post office, Somerleyton post office near Lowestoft; Stanningfield post office, near Bury St Edmunds and Halstead post office.

Halstead post office has also been shortlisted in a new category for 2003. The Little Bit Extra award has been designed to reward subpostmasters and staff who have done something special for their customers.

There are several national awards available including the best rural, town and city branches with a top prize of £500 in each category and prizes of £100 for each of the three runners-up.

The branches will be judged in the week starting August 4 and the regional awards will be announced later in the month. The winning branches will receive a plaque and be entered in the national final on October 14.

Simon Storer, chairman of the judging panel, said: "Comments on customer nominations show that our staff and subpostmasters know the true meaning of customer service. By recognising and rewarding these skills we want to ensure that the UK's largest retail chain continues to be at the heart of communities nationwide.

"The Post Office branch network is undergoing unprecedented change and expanding its range of services for customers, especially in the travel, banking and personal finance sector."