Yarpole'S revived village post office is in safe hands. Incoming postmaster Chris Smith has just retired from the Metropolitan Police Force after 30 years in uniform.

He handed in his warrant card and protective equipment last Wednesday - his last day as a city policeman - and says the departure process felt very strange after so long in the job.

Chris's new life doling out stamps, pensions, foreign currency and all the rest begins today (Thursday), at Yarpole's recently launched community shop.

A Post Office training official will be on hand to help ease him into the role.

"Villagers don't want to have to make a seven-mile round trip to Leominster for the post office. They say 'we really need you' and it's nice to feel wanted," said Chris, 48.

"I will miss the people I have worked with in the force but I am glad to leave the old job behind."

He has been working 12-hour shifts with the police but his working day from now on will be three hours six days a week.

His wife, Pam, is one of a team of volunteers that run the grocery shop side of the community enterprise.

The couple and their three teenage children had a house built in the village three years ago and are putting down roots.

They are part of a vibrant community. Villagers rallied round to set up an alternative when they heard their privately run former village store was to close.

Yarpole's Bell Inn provided a site behind the pub, where a cabin now houses the new shop and post office.

Relief postmaster John Gunson, a former Leominster shopkeeper, did a "warm up" operation by running the post office for three weeks and will be around to provide back-up for Chris.