A village post office in Denbighshire is set to reopen after a campaign by the local community - ahead of a multi million pound government rescue package for rural branches.

A number of subpost offices have been forced to close throughout Wales and earlier this year five branches shut in three months.

It's nice to see the tide turning and any money going back into the countryside is welcomed

Dewi Griffiths Villager

Five years ago residents of Clawddnewydd near Ruthin lost their facility, which acted as the only shop in the village.

However, after much campaigning and a community fundraising project the post office is set to reopen.

Villager Dewi Griffiths belongs to the local committee who helped set up the new shop and community centre.

The store is the only one in Clawddnewydd and is staffed voluntarily by local people.

"It's been nearly five years now since the post office and shop shut in the village, we opened this shop in February and it's been growing steadily," said Mr Griffiths.

Dewi Griffiths said locals have backed the shop

"The shop initially was funded through fundraising and we've had a lot of support from Denbighshire council.

"Now the shop is up and running we approached the post office and asked if they would support us and they've decided to go with us."

Within the next few weeks the UK Government is expected to announce a �450m aid package for post office branches.

The rural network loses around �3m a week as a direct result of post office closures.

From next April local villages are expected to lose more money when the government starts to phase out the payment of state benefits through post offices.

Community

Instead, payments will be provided through customers bank accounts.

Mr Griffiths said people are badly affected by post office closures.

"It is very difficult, especially for the aged members of the community to go and get their pensions.

"It's nice to see the tide turning and any money going back into the countryside is welcomed."

Denbighshire councillor Errol Williams said the community shop has been well received by local people.

He said that if the shop did not exist then residents would be forced to travel to Ruthin, which is around six miles away.

The post office counter is expected to be installed in the village shop, one morning a week from mid-December.