A PURBECK pub is serving up an unusual service alongside its pints.

A post office branch has opened next to the bar in the Royal Oak in Bere Regis.

Landlady Janette Woodhouse says she hopes the move will ensure the service's long-term survival with support from rural pubs organisation Pub is The Hub.

Janette has been running the 16th century coaching inn in West Street for just over six years. The venue features food, drink and somewhere to stay.

For the past four years, she's also been the local postmistress, operating the post office from a shop around 100 yards from the pub.

Bere Regis is home to around 1,800 people. Janette said the village, like many rural areas, struggles to keep essential services going.

With the post office under threat, Janette decided to take it under her wing by moving it lock, stock and barrel into the pub.

She approached Pub is The Hub for advice, and was able to apply for a £3,000 grant from their community services fund to support the cost of refurbishing an area in the Royal Oak for the installation of the counter.

The new branch also has a printing and copying service with two laptops available for use by customers and the community.

There is a large smart TV which can be used as a visual aid for local information, presentations or meetings.

Janette said: “I am very grateful to Pub is The Hub for helping us with this move.

"They helped to liaise with the post office and came up with the idea of providing laptops and printing to complement the service and to encourage people to use the pub as a meeting space during the day.

"However, I definitely couldn’t have done all this without all the support from the local community.

"They have been amazing.”

Reg Clarke from Pub is The Hub said: “Janette not only supports the Bere Regis community with her pub, restaurant, letting bedrooms and now the post office – she also helps two other nearby villages by delivering an outreach postal service to them.

"She is a true community champion. Janette truly has the interests of her community at heart and I’m pleased that we could help her to locate all of these services under one roof.

"We wish her and Bere Regis well in this new venture.”