FOR the second year running Clayton Post Office has picked up an award for good service, but was pipped at the post for the Best Rural Post Office in the UK title.

In 2005 postmistress Yvonne Grainger was north-east regional winner following her runner-up award in 2003 and did it again this year.

At the national finals in London on Thursday she was joint runner-up and collected her award from GMTV’s Lorraine Kelly and £500 of prizes.

“It was quite a surprise when we were short-listed to the final three at the London finals,” said Yvonne.

“It’s unbelievable for such a small post office to do it twice, but we couldn’t have done it without our customers. Being such a small community everyone knows us and the majority of people in the village use the post office.”

However, its future hangs in the balance due to government funding running out in 2008 and, like the rest of the country’s post office, she is waiting for an official announcement.

“The shop runs alongside the post office and the post office with the shop, they run along together. I am not even thinking about losing the post office, because if it goes we shall have to consider the shop.”

The annual Best Post Office Awards attracted over 172,000 votes from customers across the UK.

Clayton was pipped at the post by The Wheatsheaf, Crudwell, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, an office which is based in a public house, as is the joint runner-up The George and Dragon, Chacombe, Banbury, Oxfordshire.

“The winners of these awards are a tribute to the dedication and hard work of people across the entire network,” said Alan Cook, managing director of Post Office Ltd.