Fatal robbery post office reopens

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A village post office where the manager's son was shot dead has reopened with the help of volunteers.

Craig Hodson-Walker, 29, died in a raid at Fairfield Post Office and Stores, in Worcestershire, on 9 January.

Four men charged with murder were remanded in custody until July at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

The chairman of Belbroughton and Fairfield Parish Council, James Bradley, said the family was "very keen to get the business going again".

Declan Morrissey, 33, from Solihull, his brother Christopher Morrissey, 31, from Sheldon, Anselm Ribera, 33, from Druids Heath, and Adrian Snape , 24, of Small Heath, are also accused of attempted murder and attempted robbery.

'Terrible blows'

Mr Hodson-Walker's father, Ken Hodson-Walker, was also shot in the leg during the raid on the premises in Stourbridge Road, Fairfield.

The full time staff will continue to work there but volunteers have come forward to fill other shifts.

Mr Bradley said: "I think it's important to the family, of course, who've suffered terrible blows and one of those blows is the damage to their business.

"Also for the village it's a very important facility. Lots of people use it and they too want to show any possible way they can support the family."

The four men were remanded in custody when they appeared in court via videolink.

The defendants, being held at HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire and Woodhill prison in Buckinghamshire, spoke only to confirm their identities during the 25-minute hearing.

Christopher Morrissey, of Elmay Road, Sheldon, Declan Morrissey, of Shirley Park Road, Shirley, Ribera, of Topfield House, Druids Heath, and Snape, of Camelot Way, Small Heath, will reappear at Birmingham Crown Court for a plea hearing on 10 July.

The men's trial, which is expected to last for up to eight weeks, was fixed by Judge Melbourne Inman QC to begin on 6 October.