A village is set to lose its vital post office counter because the shop owner is finding it too stressful and costly to run.

Ranjit Dhaliwal, who has operated the Londis convenience store in Bridge for 28 years, only took on the extra service in August 2016 after the previous post office closed.

"I agreed to open the counter, against the advice of my accountant, because I thought it was the right thing to do for the village," he said.

"Now I feel like I am letting the community down, but I just can't carry on with the pressure. It's affecting my health and that of my wife and staff.

"It is also losing us about £300 a month, which is not sustainable."

Mr Dhaliwal says he asked the Post Office whether he could open the counter in the mornings only but the company turned his request down, which only re-enforced his decision to pull out.

He said: "On top of that, I have also been told the commission we are paid is also going to be cut, which was the final straw."

Mr Dhaliwal says some customers have also been rude and impatient when the counter has been unmanned for a few minutes, which has added to his disillusionment with the business.

He has given the Post Office the required six months' notice of his intention to quit the contract but expects to mutually agree a closure much sooner.

The parish council is very supportive of his predicament and is planning to meet Post Office representatives today (Thursday) to discuss the future of the service.

Chairman Alan Atkinson said: "We fully understand why Ranjit is so fed up with it, especially as he offered to open the counter in the mornings, which the Post Office rejected.

"It seems a very reasonable offer and works in other villages but the company does not seem prepared to budge when it is supposed to be supporting the rural network with government money.

"If Bridge loses its post office it will be a blow to the village and especially the elderly who don't use the internet and for whom it is a vital service. The problem is there is no other suitable venue."

Post Office spokesman Sheila Tapster said: “We have very recently received a resignation from the Postmaster for Bridge Post Office.

"We are committed to providing services in Bridge and are currently in discussion to see how they can be maintained.

"We understand and appreciate how much communities rely on our services and the vacancy will soon be advertised on our website https://runapostoffice.co.uk.”