The Post Office has confirmed plans to relocate Petersfield Post Office to an empty shop in Chapel Street have been scrapped.

A spokesman said: “The proposed move for Petersfield Post Office is not proceeding.

“It will continue to operate from its current location in The Square for the time being and any other proposed move would be subject to further consultation."

In its announcement the Post Office doesn't mention that hundreds of residents opposed the proposed move during a public consultation on the plan, saying only that an operator appointed to run the proposed new Post Office had pulled out.

The spokesman added: ""The proposed move has been cancelled after a new operator decided not to progress their application to operate the branch."

But the reprieve may only be temporary, as the Post Office would only say the existing Post Office will only remain for now and future new proposed moves would be consulted on.

The statement said: “For the time being, the branch will continue to operate from the existing premises in The Square.

“Any new location proposal would be subject to a further six-week period of local public consultation.”