It’s official – a town has a new permanent home for its post office.

Tom Tugendhat MP cut the ribbon – eventually – to open the new post office at 13 Quarry Hill Road in Tonbridge.

The post office will be run by postmasters Malar Rajamanikkam and Mahen Rasalingam within their Eco Hub Refill Store.

Since the town’s former post office lost its last permanent home in July 2022, when WH Smith’s closed down, it has been housed temporarily at the medieval Tonbridge Castle. But poor internet connections there limited its efficiency.

Malar and her husband Mahen also run Rolvenden Post Office and shop.

Their eco shop and gift store specialises in local produce and handicrafts.

Mr Tugendhat said: “We all know how important the post office is to our community.

“I am really pleased to see the work that Malar and Mahen have put into transforming the new shop, to house not only the new post office but also their new eco shop.”

The leader of Tonbridge and Malling council, Cllr Matt Boughton, said: “Tonbridge needs a post office in the town centre.

“Now it has that plus an exciting new eco store, which helps the environment and supports local businesses.”

The eco store has a wide range of food and cleaning products in dispensers where people can bring their own containers to fill, which avoids wasteful packaging and customers can buy the quantities that they need.

There is also a vegetarian pet food section, which also caters for special dietary requirements that pets may have, including gluten and dairy-free.

Mrs Rajamanikkam said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support given to us to establish a permanent post office in Tonbridge.

“It has been incredible and greatly appreciated.

“The day we opened we had so many good luck cards from local traders and people popping in to wish us well.

“We really care about the environment, and we wanted to offer something that local shops were not already offering.

“We didn’t want to take away their business.

“Customers have been very happy too and many people are finding cards and gifts for family and friends or themselves.”

The opening hours for both post office and store are Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm.