Hated double-yellow lines outside a Royal Mail sorting office have been replaced with parking bays.

Residents have long called for parking to be offered at the Ashford sorting office in Tannery Lane, which is surrounded by restrictions.

Stephanie Roberts launched a petition in 2022 after struggling to pick up a parcel just before Christmas. It gained more than 3,000 signatures.

Now the mum-of-three says she is over the moon to hear her campaign has been successful in pushing Kent County Council to create the parking bays.

“I’m very pleased that it’s finally happened,” she said.

“It’s been a very long-awaited thing and I think the petition and everyone’s support on that caused the council to respond.

“If the bays allow enough minutes for people to make their collections and deliveries, I think that is a very good final outcome for the town.”

It is currently unclear how long drivers will be allowed to leave their vehicles in the bays.

But Ms Roberts feels if she had not started the petition, the yellow lines would still be in place.

“I think it would have just continued as it was, as it has been for years so I definitely think it’s the petition that sparked everything off,” she added.

“You can start a petition but if no one signs it, nothing is going to happen. The local community have a voice and actually seeing an outcome is good to know.

“It shows if everyone has an opinion and they are supporting the local community in some way for good, then they will get heard even if it takes a little while.”

Last year, opening hours at the customer service points were slashed, with bosses citing changes in customer behaviour.

It was previously open seven days a week for longer periods of time, including 8am to 6pm Wednesday to Friday.