AS villages across the country campaign to save their post office, residents of another Fenland village are getting set for theirs to close. But the stark reality, according to the Parish Council chairman, is that the village has become a rat run for co

AS villages across the country campaign to save their post office, residents of another Fenland village are getting set for theirs to close.

But the stark reality, according to the Parish Council chairman, is that the village has become a "rat run" for commuters.

Sometime this month, the Benwick Store and Post Office, run by Will and Donna Dwane, will close and be converted into a house.

It means the nearest shop for Benwick residents will be four miles away in Doddington.

Councillor Howard Langford, Benwick Parish Council chairman, said: "The shop has not been doing well and it is going to be a real loss to those who use it.

"We don't want to lose the shop but we cannot expect someone to sit there and lose money every week so one or two people can use it."

It is the latest setback for Benwick - the village has no permanent church; Benwick Butterflies Pre-school's future is in jeopardy through a lack of interest; and the village fete, due to have been held last weekend, never happened.

Cllr Langford said: "Over the years, it has been a cheap place to buy a house. People live here to commute to Huntingdon, to catch a train to London.

"Benwick is simply a rat run to Huntingdon every morning and there is no community spirit here because of it. Nobody seems to mix here any more.

"We have a new, enthusiastic council where everybody is willing to help the community. It may be too late for the shop and, if we do not get something up and running soon, Benwick will keep going downhill.