BENSON will be left without a Post Office for the first time in more than 100 years because there is no-one to replace the outgoing owners.

Sub-postmistress Cindy Olley, 68, who is retiring due to health problems, will close the doors in just 13 days after spending more than eight years trying to sell the business.

Customers will then have to travel to Wallingford or Dorchester.

Mrs Olley’s husband, David, 70, believes his wife’s heart condition has been brought on by the stress of trying to make the business work.

Mr Olley, a parish councillor who helps run the Post Office, said: “I know there has been a Post Office here since at least 1908.

“People in the village will be angry that they are losing a local amenity – I’m angry that my wife’s illness has been brought on by the stress of running the business.”

The closure comes five months after Benson News, also in High Street, closed.

In December, the parish council launched a campaign to encourage villagers to support shops in Benson which has a population of 5,500 people.

The MP for the area, John Howell called on villagers to launch a community post office, run by volunteers.

Mr Howell said he had held talks with parish council chairman Bill Pattison about what action needed to be taken.

He said: “It is unacceptable that a village the size of Benson could be left without a Post Office.

“I think the only way forward is for villagers to launch a community-run post office to meet the needs of people living nearby.

“It has happened nearby and been very successful – Warborough is a great example.

“I think this could be a brilliant opportunity to for the village to take into its control a vital part of its infrastructure, and I am happy to help in any way I can.”

Mr Pattison said: “As a parish council we are keen to take a lead because residents are asking us to, but we can’t run the Post Office.

“As well as a community office, there are other options being explored like a mobile service.

“So much responsibility has been stripped from Post Offices over the years, but they are still very important to a lot of people.”

Post Office spokesman Jacquie Stenson said the company hoped the closure would be temporary.

She said: “We are keen to maintain a Post Office service in the area and we are working within the local community to find a solution.

“We apologise to customers for any inconvenience that may be caused by the temporary closure.”