A Moray post office has closed suddenly – leaving elderly residents with a 10-mile round trip to access their pensions.
The post office in Dufftown closed unexpectedly last week after newsagents McCandlish, where it was based, went into receivership.
Now villagers are calling for urgent stop-gap measures to ensure they can access vital financial services locally.
The closure means elderly residents will now have to travel to Aberlour or Craigellacie to collect their pensions.
Bunty Campbell, chairwoman of Dufftown Community Council, said: “This has come as a big disappointment, especially for elderly or vulnerable people who will struggle to get out to other post offices.
“I understand it is difficult to find someone to take something like this on, but people here do need a solution urgently.”
Speyside and Glenlivet councillor Mike McConnachie said: “This is causing real problems for our local community, and the local postmistress was completely in the dark about this until it was sprung on her.
“Getting a permanent solution will take some time but we need to get temporary measures in place as soon as possible.
“We need help with transport to get people to other post offices to access pensions and other key financial services, and finding a temporary post office option in Dufftown until we get a full replacement service.”
Local MP Angus Robertson said he had already been in touch with the Post Office about the “urgent situation” and has asked them to explore opening up a “stop gap service” in the library, tourist information office or even the local hall.
However, he added: “This, of course, requires a willing postmaster to step in from another franchise and that is not necessarily a simple thing to resolve.
“I will continue to stay in contact with both Post Office Ltd and the local community and offer any help that I can give.”
A Post Office spokeswoman yesterday said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of the Dufftown Post Office branch.
“We would like to reassure customers that we are working hard to restore the service to the community as soon as possible and are committed to maintaining services in the area.”