The closure of Mousehole Post Office today has caused concern among the villagers about the future of the crucial local amenity.

Nick Weldon, the sub post office manager, closed the business through ill health on Friday sparking fears that the service will not reopen.

"The problem if that time is of the essence," said Leslie Blewitt, owner of the village gift shop "Cat & Mouse Gifts".

"Royal Mail must get the post office reopened before the villagers start getting their pensions and benefits paid straight into their bank accounts.

"By all accounts that's a significant chunk of the post office business," she said.

Royal Mail has apologised for the inconvenience and pledged its committment to maintaining the village service.

A spokesperson said all efforts were being made to reinstate another post office manager.

MP Andrew George is calling on Royal Mail to ensure that the vacant position is made attractive to new applicants.

"Royal Mail managers must make sure that potential applicants are reassured regarding the impact of further plans for the Post Office.

"I hope that its remuneration is sufficient to attract interest," he said.

Royal Mail refused to divulge that information.

A spokesperson said: "I am not able to provide you with a remuneration figure as the information is personal to the Sub postmaster and is of commercial interest.

"It is unlikely that you will be provided with the information for these reasons but if you would still like to request the information via Freedom of Information you can e-mail FOI@royalmail.com.

Sub Post Offices are run as a small business by a Sub postmaster who is also responsible for providing the premises in which they operate.

Royal Mail said a Post Office is not something that is taken on lightly it is a business and there are costs involved.

Serious applicants would be asked to provide a business plan and will be subject to a number of checks.

An interested business owner interested in running the sub post office in Mousehole would also need to have their own premises, a spokesperson said.