A post office could be saved from closure after a member of staff offered to take it over.
The Kemp Town Post Office in St George's Road, Brighton, is due to close on November 7 when sub-postmistress Pat Bonner retires after six years.
Hundreds of customers have signed a petition calling for the service to be saved.
Now Mrs Bonner's assistant Julia Clarke has revealed she is negotiating with the Post Office about temporarily taking over the business while renting the premises from leaseholder Mrs Bonner.
The deal would depend on Miss Clarke finding extra staff to help.
Miss Clarke, 26, said: "It's a very good opportunity for me but I would like to see it stay open for everybody. The post office is a part of the community.
"At first it would just be a six-month contract and if everything went OK perhaps I could continue that. Hopefully one day I would be able to take over the lease myself."
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