Local man Darren King has purchased the branch from the previous owners.

The Heugh Post Office on the Headland in Hartlepool has been taken over by a businessman.

Local man Darren King has purchased the branch from the previous owners, who ran it for four years before deciding to pursue other interests, the Hartlepool Mail reported.

Andrew Birnie, who was responsible for overseeing the transaction, told the newspaper that the sellers wanted to retain the property but sell the business and so a lease was created.

"[Mr King] passed the Post Office interview and is now enjoying running the business," he added.

Mr Birnie revealed that the new owner will maintain parcel delivery services and will look to expand other areas of the Post Office to better serve the community.

A new Post Office recently opened in the Sutton area of Hull.

The outlet, run by Paul and Jan Khaira, has been welcomed by local people, who had to travel further for parcel delivery services after their local branch closed four months ago, the Hull Daily Mail reported.

Posted by Lucy Pritchard

Article Added: 19/03/2010 09:04:03