ROYAL Mail are holding items from the closed Ferndown Post Office at their local delivery office.

The post office has been closed since Wednesday July 5 and residents are being forced to go elsewhere to access services.

Royal Mail spokesperson Sally Hopkins said: "As a result of the unforeseen closure of Ferndown post office, we are holding any items for the post office at Ferndown delivery office from where they can be collected.

"The post office does not offer a mail collection facility for Ferndown customers – any undeliverable items for which we’ve left a “Something for You” card with the customer are held at Ferndown delivery office."

Local councillors are growing increasingly concerned by the closure and calling for the post office to step up their efforts to get the store back up and running.

Speculation suggests the locks were changed on the post office overnight by the previous tenant, following a dispute with the current occupiers.