A six-week public consultation has been launched in a proposal to relocate a Post Office less than 200ft.

The Post Office is proposing to relocate Dorchester's Victoria Park Post Office on Maud Road to Central Convenience Stores, also on Maud Road - a one minute walk away.

In 2016 the Post Office had proposed to move the branch on Maud Road to Poundbury Village Stores, Middlemarsh Street.

But during the public consultation Post Office Ltd received more than 300 individual responses from customers and local representatives and a petition with 570 signatures and feedback from the independent watchdog Citizen Advice, mainly opposing the move.

Residents in Victoria Park were concerned that they will be left without a local service, while Poundbury would have two post offices after one opened at Buttermarket Stores.

In September it was decided not to relocate the store to Poundbury.

In the new proposal, Post Office services would be provided from three modern counters including two modern full-screened counters and an open-plan counter alongside the retail counter and would see significantly extended opening hours.

The two main counters will be open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5.30pm. The open-pan counter will be open even longer hours, Monday to Sunday, 6am to 10pm.

This would be an extra 66 hours a week.

A wider selection of on demand travel money and car tax renewal will also be added to the Post Office services already available.

The relocation, which would be with the current postmaster's agreement, would be part of a major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and modern open plan environments.

Suzanne Richardson, regional network manager, said: "We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents. We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs. This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future."

The Post Office is now inviting customers and interested parties to give their comments.

The consultation will close on Tuesday, August 8 2017. Submissions can be made during the consultation by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline on 03457 22 33 44 or Textphone 03457 22 33 55.

Customers can also share their views online through the quick questionnaire at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 182518.