A postmistress who has run what is believed to be the UK’s smallest Post Office from her rural village home is retiring after serving customers – for 47 years.

Jane Tudor, 77, is stepping down after running Bobbington Post Office near Stourbridge, West Midlands, from her bungalow since 1977.

The Post Office measures just one metre by one metre and is actually just a serving hatch where customers have to stand on her porch veranda to be served

Jane has served more than 500 villagers for almost five decades from her property but has now finally decided to call it a day.

She said: “I have had my lovely, loyal, band of customers over the years that I’ve got to know really well they’ve become friends.

“Occasionally you would get a new customer turn up, looking very bemused.

“They had been in the area and looked up on Post Office branch finder for the nearest branch.

“They would ask if it really was a Post Office and could I serve them stamps, which I could and more besides.

“They would then smile and be surprised by the miniature Post Office branch that they had found.

“You have to see this place to believe it. It’s definitely one of the smallest Post Offices in the UK, maybe even the smallest.”

In 1977 Jane and husband Burt bought a rural business of a garage offering fuel, car repairs and MOTs, which Burt focussed on.

There was also a small shop and Bobbington Post Office and they used to employ several local people.

These business activities were scaled back over the years until her part-time Post Office remained on a Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning based at home.

Jane, who was also a parish councillor for 32 years, added: “I have really enjoyed my time as postmistress. I love serving people.

“With the pandemic lockdown I closed for the first three months because of my husband’s condition.

“However, no one in Bobbington caught Covid and by that time people were clearer about what they were dealing with, so I decided to re-open the Post Office and people were happy that they no longer had to travel, and I could still keep us safe.

“Sadly, Burt died three years ago. I carried on running the branch as it was lovely to see all of my customers. Now at the age of 77, I need to think about my health.

“My kind customers all understand that it is now time for me to retire and wished me well.”

Post Office area manager, Nik Priestley, added: “I want to sincerely thank Jane for running Bobbington Post Office for 47 years that is a remarkable achievement.

“I know the village really appreciated what she has done. Her Post Office might have been small but it met the needs of this rural village.”