The Post Office has agreed to open a new branch in Ely – bringing an end to its 12-month stay in a gymnasium car park.

The city’s new branch will open in Central Hall, a former dance hall, in Market Street, on December 1 at 1pm.

The new venue will replace the temporary post office operating from the Paradise Centre car park, which will close on Saturday, November 29, at 12.30pm.

The post office moved into the car park in 2013 after its former premises, in High Street, was closed by lease holder Lloydspharmacy.

The new branch, which will share premises with a convenience store, will have five serving positions, a mixture of screened and open-plan counters.

The main counters will open Monday to Saturday, from 9am-5.30pm.

There will also be a Post Office terminal by the shop’s retail till that will offer most Post Office services throughout the extended shop opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 7am-8pm; Saturday, from 7am-10pm and Sunday, from 7am-6pm.

Davinder Singh, owner of the new branch, said: “I am delighted that I will soon be opening a convenience store and post office. Customers will be able to access a wide range of Post Office services during our shop opening hours - 45 hours a week more than currently offered. I’m looking forward to serving my new customers.”

Julia Marwood, regional manager for Post Office, 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 community will be popular. The modernisation is part of a major Government investment programme that is enabling us to continue investing in the network and to map out a bold growth strategy through to the end of the decade.”