Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) is seeking a new provider to offer postal and parcel collection services in Port St Mary.

IOMPO is inviting expressions of interest from suitable businesses in the village to provide the services from their premises.

Across the island, services are provided both directly by IOMPO and through partnerships with independent retailers.

IOMPO said: ‘As part of this procurement exercise, businesses may submit a proposal for one of two service options. The first is a Postal Counter Service, providing services such as prepaid and returns parcel handling, the sale of postage for Isle of Man and UK letters and parcels, and international letters.

‘The second is a Parcel Collection service, providing a convenient location for customers to collect parcels and other mail items received from IOMPO.

‘Both opportunities are designed to complement existing retail businesses by increasing customer footfall, enhancing local services, and supporting community access to postal services.’

The successful business would be paid on a commission basis for postal services and receive a fixed fee per item for parcel collections.

The search comes after Torden Stores announced its closure last month following five years in business.

Torden Stores had stopped providing postal services from July 1, citing concerns about the financial viability of continuing to operate the counter.

The store said the postal system was ‘not conducive’ to running the service and claimed transactions paid for by card had resulted in it losing money.

It also said that, during the previous month, it had ‘actually paid the Isle of Man Post Office for the service’.

In May, Post Office bosses revealed they were seeking expressions of interest from businesses in Foxdale, Jurby and central Onchan to host postal services - but Port St Mary was not included at that stage.

Any business interested in providing postal services in Port St Mary should email [email protected] by noon on September 1.