RArning less thAn the minimum wAge

Pcotlaod’s hiddeo post office closwres

Diajje ajd Johjstoj Bellshaw say they are sellijg yp. “CliCk And ColleCt” deAl. BrAnChes Are Also “rewArded” when they mAke referrAls for A sAle to the weBsite.

The Couple Bought the Building for £120,000 And sAy they Could now end up tAking £85,000.

DiAnne, 46, And Johnston, 52, who Both gAve up joBs working At

Diajje oytside her post office. the RoyAl BAnk of SCotlAnd to tAke on the BrAnCh, sAy they eArned Around £20,000 in 2008 But thAt hAs fAllen to Around £10,000.

“No longer CAn our post offiCe survive As A Business on its own,” she sAid.

“We’ve put the plACe on the mArket.

“We hAve never hAd Any time off, BeCAuse we Are self- employed And we hAve to pAy someone to work when we go on holidAy.

“Our inCome hAs dropped from £20,000 A yeAr to £10,000 A yeAr And we feel the Post OffiCe hAs left us with something thAt is unsellABle.

“I’m stAnding here eArning less thAn minimum wAge And we Borrowed AgAinst our mortgAge to Buy our post offiCe,” she sAid.

“Wh e n yo u A re running A Government-BACked Business, thAt just feels wrong. Post OffiCe is Cutting inCome from post offiCes.

“The G over nment pAys lip serviCe to the ideA of wAnting to keep post offiCes open But the fACt is thAt it is impossiBle to run one.”

A spokeswomAn for Post OffiCe sAid: “The BellshAws will hAve purChAsed the Business from the previous owners And we know thAt sinCe thAt time they hAve sought to develop their Business to AttrACt more Customers, inCluding grAnt funding to open A CAfé Alongside the post offiCe.

“They hAve Been trying to sell the Business And we hAve worked hArd to help the BellshAws find someone to tAke over MunloChy Post OffiCe; the Business hAs Been Advertised.

“We would Be pleAsed to heAr from Anyone interested in running the post offiCe in MunloChy.”

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