A VILLAGE will have post office facilities and a new coffee shop thanks to the work of its go-getting community.

The Great Bromley Cross Inn closed in 2015 but villagers banded together to try to save it and raised £210,000 to buy the building.

It was then reopened as a community-owned facility in December last year and now hosts events ranging from a dog walker’s barbecue to a CPR training and art exhibitions.

In July, a new £28,000 commercial kitchen was opened which was funded by a CGC Environment Trust grant.

Now residents have also reopened a post office in the pub.

It had been run from a room at the back of the pub until it closed in November 2015.

Lesley Broadbent, who is a committee member of the Great Bromley Cross Pub Community Benefit Society, said: “It’s great to be able to offer local people a post office again after an absence of some two years.”

The pub has found another use as it will host a new Wednesday morning coffee shop selling tea, coffee and cake.

Lesley said: “There’s every reason to come and meet people and have a chat.

“It gives us an opportunity to offer new services such as a pop-up nail bar, which will be in the coffee shop and post office every other week.”

The post office, which was opened by long-time Bromley resident Beryl Hurst, will operate every Wednesday between 10am and noon offering services including mobile phone top-ups, foreign currency ordering, car tax and banking.

The coffee shop will be run by villager Kate Brotzman.

She said: “I have been involved with the Cross as a volunteer since it reopened as a community pub last year.

“I enjoy baking and wanted to take it to the next stage and am looking forward to welcoming people every Wednesday.”