COWDENBEATH Post Office will close on Monday May 1 to allow a major refurbishment to take place.

The High Street premises will shut at 5.30pm that day and a modernised 'main' post office will re-open at 1pm on Friday May 5.

Bosses said it will be open for longer and offer a convenient, quick service and easy access to banking facilities.

John Hollywood, Post Office area manager, 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 local community will meet customer needs.

"This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office.”

Opening hours at the office at 308 High Street will increase to 51 a week – 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.30pm on Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday – and it will have three serving positions.

Customers will be able to send international parcels and arrange special delivery, Local Collect and home shopping returns, cash withdrawals, sending funds abroad, paying bills and buying holiday money.

They'll also be able to get insurance, mortgages, savings and top up mobile phones.

And with banks shutting local branches, customers for the majority of UK banks will be able to use the post office for online banking cash deposits, withdrawals and bill payments.

During the closure, the nearest alternative post offices will be in Hill of Beath and Kelty.