The post office at Bethlehem stamps Christmas mail every year

People from all over the world take their Christmas post to Bethlehem in Carmarthenshire to get it stamped.

The part-time post office is based in the former village school which is run as a community centre by locals.

They have an option to buy the school when the lease runs but are �2,500 short of the money they need to get a grant to buy the building.

It is quite a rural, isolated community and it has been able to bring people together as a point of contract Village Association

The post office is run on Mondays and Thursdays as a satellite service from the Llandeilo branch by sub postmaster Mike Williams.

He said it would be a sad day if it closed.

"It seems quite unreal because there is a routine and customers generally arrive here at the same time each week.

"It's just something that I would like to see continue."

Post Office Ltd says it will do everything it can to help Mr Williams continue the service even if it was at another location.

"We hope that the lease issue can be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties concerned," said a spokesman.

But the old school is the only community building in Bethlehem.

There are no shops or pubs and the school also serves as a community centre where residents run clubs, markets and local events.

They have raised �3,000 towards the cost of buying the building.

A spokeswoman for the village association said: "I think it is very important it is kept going.

"It is quite a rural, isolated community and it has been able to bring people together as a point of contract."

Carmarthenshire Council, which currently owns the building, says it is willing to negotiate when the lease runs out next month.

Senior estates assistant Hywel Humphreys said the authority would do what it could to help.