WEYMOUTH'S main Post Office has closed down suddenly.

Shocked customers arriving at the premises in St Thomas Street on Saturday morning were met with locked doors and a sign in the window stating the landlord has changed the locks and forfeited the lease due to non-payment of rent.

Another sign in the window says the shop is closed due to 'unforeseen circumstances' and directs customers to other Post Office branches at Abbotsbury Road Londis or Dorchester Road.

Later in the morning, someone used a black marker pen to daub graffiti on the glass of the shop. It includes the word 'pathetic' and 'another charity shop coming soon'.

A notice to customers was stuck on the window covering the graffiti and the landlord's notice.

Small crowds of customers have gathered periodically outside the premises throughout the day, expressing their surprise at the closure.

A staff member from the branch, who did not wish to be named, said they had been told ‘not to say anything’ about the branch closure.

The individual said: “We don’t really know anything about it, we know as much as the public.”  

They added they were unsure whether they would be transferred to another branch of if they would lose their jobs.

Kevin Powell, 60, from Weymouth said: “I’m annoyed at what’s happened, especially for older people who need to get their pensions. This town’s had it, it’s going downhill. First Condor leaves and now we don’t even have a post office.”

Liliane Mutton, 80, from Weymouth, said: “We only found out this morning when we looked at the notice on the door. I came into town to post something because my family are scattered up and down the country. I get my pension paid straight in but I’m sure it will affect others because it’s the only post office here."

A 70-year-old Chickerell resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “I came down to this post office to get a passport application form because they don’t have them at the Chickerell or Charlestown branches. The closure will definitely affect a lot of people. Not paying their rent – don’t they make enough money?”

The branch at 87 St Thomas Street is operated by Smartpost on behalf of the Post Office.

It opened in January 2013 after being relocated from larger premises further along St Thomas Street as part of the Post Office's modernisation programme.

The new premises includes a Thorntons shop.

It has longer opening hours compared to the old office including all day Saturday.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax officially opened the branch in February 2013.

He praised the ‘bright and spacious’ premises which he said was a ‘vast improvement’ on the old building.

The premises were refurbished and fitted out to a high specification, ensuring adequate space and that the counters were easily accessible.

There are seven counter positions, a mixture of traditional security screened and open plan style positions.

When the new branch first opened, the Echo was told it was serving 400 extra people a week compared to the old general post office.

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