One of a village's oldest residents cut a red ribbon to officially open its new sub post office.

Mary Quarterman, 86, who did the honours, can certainly claim to be its most loyal customer after triggering a protest at the sudden closure of Little Milton's former post office in February.

The previous owner unexpectedly moved to Canada when the property in Haseley Road was put on the market and sold to a firm of estate agents.

A letter from Mrs Quarterman to the parish council expressing her shock at the loss of the post office resulted in a public meeting attended by 200 of the 398 people on Little Milton's electoral roll - and the campaign to retain a post office in the village was on.

Parish councillor David Taylor, who headed an action committee, said: "The whole of the village, with the help of South Oxfordshire District Council, was single-minded in a determination to secure premises for a new post office."

Villager Meg Hue-Williams bought a listed cottage which came on to the market after the death of its owner, and part of its ground floor has been converted into the post office.

The £14,000 cost of the conversion was paid for by villagers with the help of a £5,000 grant from the district council and £1,500 from the Oxfordshire Rural Community Council.

Before the official opening, Mrs Quarterman said: "It is wonderful to have a post office again. I have been using the post office at Little Milton and meeting friends and neighbours there ever since I was a child."

Mrs Quarterman said she did own a car but added: "Because of my age I don't drive it any more.

"The post office is important for everyone in the village, but especially for people who don't drive."

The new post office is being leased at a peppercorn rent by the parish council, and the district council is providing 100 per cent rate relief on the premises.

The new postmistress, Annie Rogers, who has a staff of three to call on when she is not there, also worked in the old post office.