Prayers for post box answered by church

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WHEN a post box was taken away from a village, pensioners faced up to a mile's trek to send their letters.

The problem arose following the closure of Mow Cop post office last summer. The property, in High Street, was sold to a private owner who did not want to keep the post box.

Royal Mail wanted to install a replacement box somewhere else in the village, but found it difficult to find a new home because of Mow Cop's narrow pavements and the need to avoid underground cables.

So members of Mow Cop Methodist Church stepped in to help and persuaded Royal Mail to put the box in its car park, in Primitive Street, near the Sunday school.

It was put up following a campaign led by church secretary Ann Daniels, which started last October.

Mrs Daniels, aged 61, of Top Station Road, Mow Cop, who is also co-leader of the church toddler group, said: "Residents were devastated after the post box was taken away last August.

"It meant they had to walk around half a mile to one at St Thomas's Church in Mow Cop or go to Mount Pleasant and back.

"We started making phone calls in October. As well as Royal Mail, we also had to get permission from the Methodist Church.

"Everyone is thrilled that we have the post box back. We also hope to draw more interest in the church and what we do here."

Church member Norman Millard, of Primitive Street, Mow Cop, said he was very grateful to Mrs Daniels for all the work she had put into the project.

The 66-year-old said: "I have spoken to a dozen people already who are thrilled by the news. Like every village, we have a high proportion of elderly residents who found it difficult to walk long distances to post their letters."

The Reverend Stephen Hatcher, who has been based at Mow Cop Methodist Church for a year, said the village had been devastated when the post office closed.

He said: "We looked into taking over the services of the post office, but it would have been a loss-making operation.

"Royal Mail said the post box was well used and they did want to build a replacement. We wanted to do all we could to help. We are against the removal of any community service."

A Royal Mail spokesman added: "The post box located outside the former post office had to be removed at the request of the owner as it was on private land.

"It was always our intention to replace it, but it proved difficult to find a suitable new location, so this has taken some time.

"The area has narrow pavements and we have to avoid underground cables when looking for a suitable site.

"However, by working with the local community we are pleased to have been able to find a new site and have reinstated a post box on land owned by the church."