CUSTOMERS at the post office in Tidworth could see an extra 24 hours of service provided a week as part of proposed changes.

A consultation has been launched regarding changes to North Tidworth Post Office in Pennings Road.

The extra hours of service would include Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.

The branch would open earlier and would close much later, which the Post Office says would make it more convenient for customers to visit.

The changes also include a low-screened counter, which would be integrated into the retail counter.

The Post Office says the new-style local format would be a more modern way of offering Post Office services, but would in no way compromises the professional service standards and the openplan counter would make it easier for staff and customers to have discreet conversations.

Post Office area manager David Gold said: “We would be 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 to local residents.

“We are confident that this vibrant new-style post office at the heart of the local community would meet customer needs. This modernisation would be part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and would secure services for the future.”

In 2012, the Post Office announced an investment of £1.34bn for the transformation programme across 6,000 branches. And in November 2013, the government announced a further £640m investment in the Post Office network.

Customers and interested parties are invited to comment on the plans. The consultation is open until August 18. Send a letter to Freepost Your Comments to Post Office Ltd, email comments@ postoffice.co.uk, call the customer helpline on 03457 22 33 44 or textphone 03457 22 33 55.

Customers can share their views online at postofficeviews.co.uk using the branch code 318542.