Another community post office is closing.

St John’s post office on Station Road will shut on August 7 after sub postmaster Rob Knighton announced he is stepping down.

Mr Knighton said he made his decision to resign due to falling transaction numbers, which he said put the financial status of the business in doubt.

Pulrose post office shut in March six months after the closure of the Crosby Terrace branch in Douglas, both following the retirement of their sub postmaster.

Others could follow as the loss-making Post Office reviews its retail network.

Mr Knighton said: ’Unfortunately running the post office at St John’s is no longer financial viable for us with falling footfall through the door.

’We are seeing an increase in more and more people choosing to do their business online and of course, there is a further threat of lost business through digitalisation.

’I would sincerely like to thank my customers for their custom over the years and who have supported us and chosen to transact their business face-to-face at our counter.’

Isle of Man Post Office says the digital era is changing the way people and businesses transact their postal business, leading to a sustained reduction in the use of the counter-based services.

Fewer businesses want to offer counter services through the network, and letter mail has continued to decline, down 47% in the last 10 years.

The Post Office board is preparing its five-year retail strategy to respond to the changes.

It is carrying out research on the format of the delivery of retail services customers want and will report back to Tynwald with its results and recommendations by October 2019. Therefore, it says, the sub postmaster role at St John’s will not be advertised.

Post Office chairman Julie Edge said: ’The board accept Mr Knighton’s business decision to resign and wish to express our sincere thanks to him and his staff for the loyalty and dedication they have provided to customers both in St John’s and the surrounding areas.

’We recognise that customers will be saddened by the news and mindful of the change this will have on MiCard customers in particular.’

The nearest alternative post offices are in Peel and Foxdale, both about 2.5 miles away and on a bus route from St John’s.

The Post Office has been in touch with the constituency MHKs and local authority for German to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.

A letter has been sent out by the social security division to all MiCard customers explaining the process they should follow to collect welfare payments from a different nominated post office.

It is understood the village shop, in which the St John’s post office counter is housed, will continue to operate once postal services end.