Last chance for Lover post mark

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/engl ... 242425.stm

A programme of post office closures may make 2008 the last year 'Lover' will be stamped on Valentine's Day cards.

The tiny post office in the village of Lover near Salisbury is due to hear at the end of the month if it is to shut.

Rita Fry, who has worked at the post office for eight years, said it received hundreds of Valentine cards each year from around the world.

"We usually handle around 800 cards from as far away as Japan, the USA and Australia," she said.

Although it is pronounced 'louver' the name reads 'Lover' and it is that stamp that sweethearts from around the world are keen to have on their cards.

The post office stamps Valentine cards with a special post mark of a heart, and the name of the village.

"We are only open five mornings a week so we think it's likely we will be closed," said Ms Fry.

"If it goes it will be sad and the villagers are generally sad because it's the end of era - last year we lost the school and this is likely to be the last time the post mark will be used."

The village church has begun talks with the Royal Mail to see if it can receive Valentine cards so that they are stamped with the 'Lover' mark before being sent to the Mount Pleasant depot in London for posting.