ALVESTON'S general store in Greenhill Parade is set to close next week - and the sub post office is still facing an uncertain future.

Owners Julian Goulden and Ann Turner are closing the convenience store side of the business on Monday after reaching an agreement with a neighbouring shop.

But the partners will continue running the sub post office unless it is forced to shut as part of Government plans to slash the UK's post office network.

Sub postmaster Julien Goulden said the closure followed talks with the owners of the Londis store in Down Road.

"We have both been struggling on the convenience store side and it made sense to rationalise and concentrate on our individual strengths.

"The result is that we are giving up selling items like groceries and newspapers and magazines to concentrate on the post office and associated lines such as stationery, greetings cards and fancy goods.

"We shall also be continuing with drink sales, where we are very strong."

Meanwhile the partners are still waiting for news from Post Office bosses on the future of the sub post office itself.

The possibility that it could be on a closure hit list caused anger and alarm in the village when it was first revealed last February.

There are fears that Royal Mail chiefs may rule that the needs of Alveston residents could be met by neighbouring post offices in Olveston or Thornbury, all within a three mile radius.

Hundreds of people have already signed a petition demanding that the thriving business be spared for the sake of the community, especially the elderly and less mobile.

Mr Goulden said he was still optimistic that the Alveston branch would escape the axe.

"We're a very busy office, even if you leave Christmas out of the picture," he said.

"Whether we sell enough Post Office products such as credit cards and phones is another question but I can't see them pulling the plug. Still, you never know."

The fight to spare the post office from any closure threat has been spearheaded by Alveston Parish Council, which has raised the petition to Post Office Counters.

Jacquie Stenson, spokesman for Post Office Ltd, said the list of proposed closures would be announced in February followed by a period of public consultation before final decisions are taken.

"Naturally we shall be speaking to individual sub postmasters before the list is made public," she said.

* The Gazette will still be readily available in Alveston after the Greenhill Parade shop closure. The Londis store in Down Road, Alveston will have extra copies.