A couple have been hailed as saviours after risking everything to stop a village post office closing down.

Philip McBrown decided to put his lifetime savings on the line to take over Glynde Stores which faced closure.

He has teamed with his partner Heidi Gravett who will help him run the shop in Ranscombe Lane, Glynde.

Villagers feared having to travel miles for post office services after the previous sub-postmaster fell ill and gave up the business.

The problem would have been particularly acute for elderly villagers who would have faced a nightmare journey on public transport to cash in their pensions.

Then Mr McBrown, of Lewes, and Ms Gravett, who has lived in the village all her life, stepped in.

Mr McBrown, 52, has had a long association with Glynde and has been involved with Glynde and Beddingham Cricket Club for more than 25 years.

Mr McBrown, known as Pip, admitted he had taken a financial risk by taking over the post office.

He said: "You get very little return with village stores like these on the money you make when you take into account the rent you have got to pay.

"But we are positive about it. I like a challenge.

"A lot of people have said we are very brave to take it on because it is a lot of work for the return but we feel it is giving a service to the community.

"When Ringmer Post Office closed down, people had to travel miles for the service.

"We didn't want to see the community lose such a vital service, so we thought we would give it a go.

"Many residents would have faced trips to Ringmer or Lewes if Glynde shop had closed down and this would have been very difficult for some, especially older people."

The venture is a big step for Mr McBrown who has worked as a painter and decorator and youth worker for more than 20 years.

He said: "I wanted to be involved in this community and would do anything to make sure it still thrives. Having never run a shop before, this is a bit of a step into the unknown for me. But I want to continue the good work of my predecessor and also make some new services available in the shop."