The Post Office have revealed proposals for a new Purfleet Post Office on Garrison Parade.

Subject to a six week public consultation, the new post office will open at McColls, at 4-6 Garrison Parade, right next door to the old post office.

The post office at number 3 Garrison Parade controversially shut in August after the owning couple were ordered by the Post Office to pay back money taken in an armed robbery out of their own salaries.

Postmaster John Pryor and his wife Anne-Marie, who had run the post office for 19 years, said at the time they were ‘disgusted’ at their treatment, and residents also united in support of the couple.

A spokesperson for the Post Office said: "The Post Office at 3 Garrison Parade, Purfleet, RM19 1ST closed temporarily on 5 August 2015, due to circumstances beyond our control.

"We are now able to restore the service by incorporating the branch into the McColls’ convenience store.

The Post Office has said the new branch would open as a ‘modern main-style branch’ and would operate from a modern screened position.

It would also open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm, which an extra six hours a week of service including Wednesday and Saturday afternoon.

Julia Marwood, Regional Network Manager, added: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Purfleet and we are confident this new modern branch will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

"The modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and makes a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

The six-week public consultation will close on 24 November 2015.

Submissions can be made by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline: 03457 22 33 44 or Textphone 03457 22 33 55.

Customers can also share their views on the proposed move with an online questionnaire postofficeviews.co.uk – branch code 138026.ring the consultation by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline: 03457 22 33 44 or Textphone 03457 22 33 55.

Customers can also share their views on the proposed move with an online questionnaire postofficeviews.co.uk – branch code 138026.