Ref. 26170-15A VILLAGE post office has suddenly shut after the landlord tried to triple the rent.

David Belson of South Marston post office in Highworth Road was paying £6,000 a year to his landlord in Hammersmith, west London.

When the rent came round for renewal nine months ago the landlord demanded a new rate of £18,000 a figure well out of Mr Belson's budget.

Months of bargaining led to a compromise of £12,000 but even that is too much and now the post office, shop and bed and breakfast will close.

Mr Belson, who has run the post office for four years, has vowed to strip the post office and bed and breakfast of all remaining goods, fixtures and fittings and give them to charity so as to leave nothing for the landlord a man he has never met.

He said: "My life has been turned upside down by this and the landlord doesn't seem to realise the effect this will have on the village there's been a shop here for generations.

"I just want people to know it's not my fault I just can't afford to keep it open.

"I will take all the old stock I've got thousands of greetings cards, for example and the beds and take them to charity shops.

"I don't want to leave anything behind."

The post office closed on Wednesday and the shop closed for the final time at midday yesterday. The decision was made about a fortnight ago.

Mr Belson, 47, who runs the business on his own and previously ran a South Cerney fish and chip shop for 12 years, will now move back to his parents' home in Trowbridge temporarily in order to have a roof over his head.

South Marston residents are sad the shop will be shutting.

Loraine Jones, 55, of Highworth Road, said: "Many people are upset at the lack of warning given if it's closing that's bad enough, but many pensioners are upset that they will have to travel to Highworth."

The nearest post offices are now in Highworth and Covingham Square.

Royal Mail spokesman Don Veale said: "We can confirm there has been a sudden closure at South Marston, which is entirely beyond our control due to the postmaster resigning with immediate effect.

"We apologise for any inconvenience and we are talking to the local community and looking at the possibilities, and we will do all we can to get a post office back."

Mr Veale said usually a postmaster would give three months notice before closing a branch.

Royal Mail does not own the buildings in which post offices run.

Tom Morton