Howwood residents can now use a mobile post office after the van made its first stop in the Renfrewshire village.

A route, which already serves Houston and Lochwinnoch, among other rural communities, has been extended.

The service now stops at the car park of Howwood Village Hall in Station Road every Monday from 9am to 10am and Friday from 11.45am to 12.45pm.

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Councillor Andy Doig, who represents the area, first contacted the Post Office last February and requested its inclusion on the van’s run after it was raised at a community council meeting.

When it was confirmed by senior management that it was on the cards towards the end of last year, the independent politician said said the development represented a “victory for people power” as more people are asked to use financial services online.

After the van made its first stop in Howwood on Monday, Councillor Doig said: “It’s early days for the new Post Office mobile service in Howwood but I am convinced that once it beds in it will be just as popular in the village as it is in Lochwinnoch.

“Once again, I cannot thank Post Office management enough for actually listening to local people and extending the service to Howwood.”

Scott Hamilton, Post Office network provision lead, added: “We are pleased to now be providing Post Office service to Howwood.”

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From this week, there have also been changes to the opening times of the mobile service in other nearby villages.

In Houston, it operates at the Old Smithy car park in North Street from 3.20pm to 4.35pm on Monday and 1pm to 2pm on Friday.

Meanwhile, in Lochwinnoch it will stop at the McKillop Institute car park between 10.10am and 11.10am each Monday, 3.30pm and 4.30pm on Wednesday, 3.15pm and 4.30pm on Thursday and 10.30am and 11.30am on Friday.