A POST Office is now open for twice as long as before, serving customers until 11pm every day.

Billericay’s High Street post office has been given a major facelift as part of changes which now see its counters open from 6am until 11pm, seven days a week.

The work has changed the busy post office into one of the first of 6,000 nationwide to get a new open-plan layout It now has five new serving positions, a mix of traditional screened positions and open counters.

The new-look post office was officially opened by Basildon and Billericay MP John Baron on Wednesday.

He said: “It’s a major transformation.

The open-plan counters which make it easier for customers and staff to talk, the extended opening hours – from breakfast to bedtime – and more modern facilities, are all welcome improvements.

“Congratulations to all staff for making this possible.”

The Post Office’s GaryHerbert said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in this area and we are confident this new, modern Post Office will meet the needs of the community and secure services for the future.

“The modernisation is part of a major investment programme to convert the Post Office network to newstyle branches.

“This investment, the largest in the history of the Post Office, makes a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”