YORK residents were celebrating today after winning a fight to have a post box re-instated.

The pillar box was removed from outside the former Fishergate Post Office in Fulford Road earlier this year, following the closure of the office.

The Royal Mail said then there was no need to replace the box, as there were two others available nearby and the number of boxes in the area was well within the requirements of the postal licence.

But York MP Hugh Bayley said local people faced inconvenience in having to walk an extra distance to the next nearest box and he had previously been given a promise by Post Office chiefs that no post boxes would be lost through the closure of sub-post offices across the city.

Fishergate Green councillors Mark Hill and Andy D'Agorne also demanded that the post box should be restored.

It has now been installed at a new site on the opposite side of Fulford Road, on the forecourt outside Fields Fayre sandwich shop.

Shop owner Sarah Bradley said customers, some elderly, had been inconvenienced by the loss of the box, and had been delighted it was being returned to the area.

She said she had even received a thank-you card from one grateful customer, pleased that she had agreed to host the box.

Mr Bayley said: "I'm glad the Post Office has listened to the case for maintaining the post box.

"There are a lot of elderly people who live close by and might have difficulty getting to the next nearest box, which is a good walk away outside the army barracks."

Coun Hill said: "I'd like to thank the proprietor of Fields Fayre for making the land available for the post box to be restored to the community.

"She has done us all a favour.

"It's just a pity that the Post Office hasn't restored the sub-post office. Pensioners cannot collect their pensions from a post box."

Updated: 10:06 Wednesday, July 20, 2005