IN A time when village post offices are under constant threat of closure, one has stood the test of time to be celebrating its 175th birthday this year.

Around 200 villagers and visitors flocked to Stoke Climsland Post Office and Stores on Sunday to help owners Sue and David Watts celebrate the milestone anniversary of one of the oldest post offices in the UK.

A service of thanksgiving was held at the parish church and a local history display was staged followed by children's arts and crafts and a bring and share lunch.

The Stoke Climsland branch remains largely unchanged in its original 14th century premises and has been under the ownership of David and Sue since 2005.

Sue said: 'One hundred and seventy five years is a massive achievement considering post offices across the country have been facing closure due to changes in population and sheer economics.

'This has always been the post office — there is even history of it carrying mail before it became an official post office. Usually, if a post office changed hands, it was moved into the postmaster's home. The good thing here is that it was passed down through the same family for many years.'

Sue said she settled into her postmistress role very quickly but didn't realise how diverse her job role would be.

'We've done everything from picking up dead cats from the road and re-uniting them with their owners, hearing fire alarms going off in the middle of the night and alerting various people, and returning a goose to the wild.

'Once we were told that there was a problem with cows in the churchyard, which became our responsibility obviously — because who else's would it be?

'I can't count how many times people have said to us "but we've always done it like this". I didn't realise all this would be in my job description. We have all sorts of customers from all walks of life — its always interesting and generally quite funny.

'It's challenging, sometimes hard work but always very fulfilling. We're very proud to be involved in such an important part of the community.'

During the celebration on Sunday, a post office messenger arrived in the village on horseback with a commemorative scroll. Bude Postmaster and sales capability manager for the South West Luke Francis, dressed appropriately for the occasion with his horse Harry, presented Sue with the scroll congratulating them on behalf of Post Office Ltd.

An envelope commemorating the anniversary has also been created as a keepsake, and involved a competition for Stoke Climsland Primary School pupils to design stamps for the envelope.

Winners Ivy, Kacey and Joe impressed with their designs, which have been featured on the special edition envelope.

The '175 working group' has also organised a number of other events throughout the year, including an Asian street food festival on March 22 at the Old School, and culminating in the village fair on June 14.

'All members of the community can come along,' added Sue: 'We are hoping to have the scouts, the WI, the young farmers and other organisations — every aspect of the community will be involved.'

The rest of the activities being organised this year will fundraise for the village fair so people will not have to pay for food at the event.

'We want to give something back to the community,' said Sue.

The commemorative envelopes have been selling quickly but a number are still available from Stoke Climsland Post Office and Stores.