The mobile post office that was meant to start running on St Valentine’s Day hit the road today a week late.
The van failed to get going through Lochwinnoch and Houston after problems at its garage base.
But it arrived in Lochwinnoch for the first time this morning, with Johnstone Postmaster Ewan Shaw behind the wheel and counter.
This afternoon it will visit Houston and over the course of the week will tour 13 communities in the West of Scotland.
It will also serve Eaglesham in East Renfrewshire as well as parts of Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Old Kilpatrick.
The high-sided Mercedes Sprinter has a counter set-up in the back and a writing surface for customers.
It is due in Lochwinnoch three times a week and Houston twice a week.
Ultimately Johnstone Post Office will set up a part-time permanent operation within the McKillop Hall to serve Lochwinnoch.
The mobile should be at The Old Smithy Car Park in North Street, Houston, on Mondays from 3pm-4.15pm and on Fridays from 12.15pm-1.15pm.
Lochwinnoch times are Mondays from 9am-11am, Thursdays from 3pm-4.30pm and Fridays from 10.45am-11.45am.
The shutters came down on the Spar post office counter in the village on October 21.
The Post Office said a mobile unit was a “tried and tested way to serve rural communities.”
David Duff, Post Office Network Provision Lead, said: “We are delighted to have introduced a brand-new Mobile Post Office to serve these 13 communities, restoring Post Office service to them.
“We thank the Postmaster for Johnstone for operating these Mobile Post Offices as we know how important a Post Office is to a community.”
Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport in your area. Available on both Android and Apple. Download here: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
