ST HELENS' main town centre post office will open in its new location today (Thursday).

The Star reported earlier this year that the Post Office was to move the branch on Bridge Street to Church Square Shopping Centre after it was confirmed after a consultation.

The new branch will open at the former Saints & Sinners premises in Church Square Shopping Centre on Thursday, July 25 offering five server positions and two self service kiosks.

Services will be available from 9am to 5.30pm from Monday to Saturday, amounting to 51 hours of Post Office service a week.

The Post Office says a wide range of products and services will be available, including a range of banking services.

Customers in St Helens will be able to deposit and withdraw cash, as well as check their balance, over the counter at the branch, during the extended opening hours.

Roger Gale, network and sales director, said that the change would help to ensure the branch is commercially viable into the future and therefore protect Post Office services on which customers in the area depend.

He said: “The Post Office is committed to keeping our services at the heart of communities which we know is hugely important to people. This change means we can continue to do that, into the future.

"We are making sure we take the right action to sustain services for years to come.”

The previous St Helens Post Office closed its Bridge Street premises at 5.30pm on Wednesday, July 24.