GWEN and Bill Marshall, the popular pair behind the counter of Devizes Road Post Office and Stores, in Salisbury, were overwhelmed on Saturday morning when a contingent of customers turned up to shower them with gifts and cards for their retirement.

The couple, who shut shop on Monday, have run the business for 15 years.

It is one of four in Salisbury due to close in the next few weeks as part of the Post Office's plan to safeguard its network.

The other post offices to be closed are Lower Road Bemerton, Estcourt Road and East Harnham in Harnham Road.

Office head of area Drew McBride told the Journal last week: "Our nationwide network of branches faces a critical point in its history.

"There are simply not enough customers for the number of offices in towns and cities and there is the prospect of further customer losses once the department for work and pensions starts to move benefit payments from order books to bank accounts.

"For the network to survive, we must make some tough, commercial decisions, while ensuring our customers have reasonable access to our products and services."

But on Saturday, as customer Teresa McLeod said: "Everyone just wanted to say goodbye to our friends."

Stephanie Sanger called the Marshalls "lovely people". Jim Palm said the service they provided "could not be better" and Theresa Dean said they would be "very sorely missed".

"You can always have a laugh with Bill and Gwen and they cheer you up," she said.

Frances Edwards called them "wonderful people" and Elizabeth Sadler said they had been good friends to her.

Jean Jones described them as "very special".

"Bill takes shopping to people's houses round here, even though he and Gwen live in East Gomeldon," she said.

Maxine Salmi and Beryl Drewett went house-to-house in the area collecting money for gifts for the couple.

They collected enough for a sundial, gardening vouchers, a magnolia, photo frames, a bottle of whisky and a glass.

Bill and Gwen were overwhelmed.

"Our customers are wonderful, fantastic people," said Bill.

And Gwen, wiping tears from her eyes, said: "We cannot believe it. Everyone has been so kind.

"We have made a lot of friends and we shall miss them all.

"We want to thank everyone for their custom and their support for our grandson Luke, who is disabled and for whom our customers have raised a lot of money over the years."

She added: "And to think we wanted to go quietly!"