An MP hopes a new location can be found for a local post office after plans emerged to close the shop in which it is housed.

Stowmarket’s post office is run out of the One Stop shop, in Ipswich Road, at the moment, in the south of the town, but One Stop’s proposals to close the convenience store mean it may have to be moved elsewhere.

It has only been two years since a rennovation saw the branch open for an additional 70 hours a week.

The town’s MP, Jo Churchill, has put her full support behind finding a new location.

In a statement on Facebook Ms Churchill said: “Residents are understandably concerned about the future of the post office service in Stowmarket.

“I have an assurance from the post office that they are committed to maintaining a full service in town and, as it stands, they are in talks with interested parties but, due to commercial confidentiality were unable to tell me more, at the current time.

“Working with our town and district councillors, I am very keen ensure this service is maintained as I understand how important it is to residents. Additionally, in light of the closure of many rural Post Offices it provides a vital service for those in surrounding villages too.”

Worries over the closure come after a host of other local post offices have been forced to either relocate or close.

In 2017 alone stores in Bury St Edmunds, Sible Hedingham, in Essex, and the Howard Estate in east Ipswich have all faced problems.

Ipswich’s main Post Office has also now moved into WH Smith from the Sailmakers shopping centre.

As well as looking for a new location, a new postmaster is also needed for Stowmarket Post Office after the previous holder of the position resigned.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “We understand the local community’s concerns following the announcement that the One Stop shop within which Stowmarket Post Office is hosted will be closing.

“We know many people rely on the services that post offices provide and would like to reassure customers that we are working hard to find a way of maintaining post office services in the Stowmarket area.

“The vacancy has been advertised and there is an interested applicant.”