A VILLAGE at the centre of a murder probe has seen its post office service return nine months after its postmistress was killed.

A mobile post office was set up in Melsonby, near Richmond, this week.

The move follows the closure of the permanent shop last March, after the body of its owner, Diana Garbutt, 40, was found in its living area. Her husband Robin, 45, was arrested three weeks later and charged with her murder, which he denies. A trial is scheduled to start at Teesside Crown Court in March. Mrs Garbutt grew up in Eggborough, near Selby, and she and her husband previously lived in York.

Community leaders in Melsonby had feared residents would not use the replacement service after being forced to travel to other villages since their local branch closed, but the mobile post office has proved popular this week. Noel Carnell, who operates the service, said talks about returning a post office to Melsonby had been taking place for several months, but the go-ahead from Royal Mail had only just been secured.

“In some villages, it’s the pensions that people miss, but in others it’s just being able to post things,” he said. “I think people really appreciate having a mobile service.”