Post office is in the pub

SYLVIA FRANKLIN is the parish clerk for Burwash Weald. She is also the landlady at the village's only pub. And now she has become the village's postmistress.

For Sylvia, and husband Bob, have come to the villagers rescue by setting up a post office in the bar of their pub, The Wheel Inn.

The couple decided to combine pints with parcels when the previous post office closed earlier this year.

Bob said: 'The people who were running the village shop and post office were running it in conjunction with another business. Everyone thought it was a shame to lose the post office.'

Bob said Sylvia was approached, in her role as parish clerk, by the local MP and the Post Office itself for ideas where a new post office could be sited. He added that the only place they could think of was their own pub.

'We serve cups of tea to people who come into the pub to use the post office,' added Bob. 'But we've not reached the market that would drink eight pints after posting a letter!'

Pictured: Bob Franklin toasts the new postal business that will keep wife Sylvia busy.

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