Surrounded by best wishes cards, a long-serving sub-postmaster has called it a day after 20 years.

Alan Clucas retired from Pulrose post office on March 20, saying he was doing so with ’great sadness’.

In a message published in the Courier, he thanked customers for their support over the years.

He said: ’Pulrose is what I call a real community. To quote my late father-in-law "kick one and we all limp!". To the young ones and children - I quickly learned that if you treat them with respect they will respond.’

When Alan took over the post office, he said there was one cancer charity collection box chained to the counter.

He ended up with 11 for various charities and revealed more than £7,000 was raised over the years.

’How marvellous is that? I am proud of you,’ he said.