A BARLBY councillor has praised a retiring area postmistress who has served her community for more than 30 years.

Sue Hope is giving up the role of sub postmistress in the village at the end of this month, 31 years after she and her late husband Dave first took on the job, and according to Cllr Steph Duckett will be sorely missed by the community.

Steph said: "Sue is dearly loved and respected in the village.

"When children went into the shop they would be given a little white chocolate mouse. Now those children are grown up and taking their own children in for a white mouse.

"It was lovely to have a shop in the village where you could go in for a chat, and not feel like you are being rushed through the tills."

The Barlby Post Office will close at the end of the month, and Sue said she will miss her customers, especially the children who visit the shop regularly.

"I have enjoyed the work very much, and I will miss the people very very much.

"They have been wonderful. I lost my husband eight years ago and everybody was very supportive."