Residents of a Cotswold village are fighting to safeguard a tradition where the post office and small shops close for an hour for lunch each day.

The threat to a sedate pace of life in Painswick, Gloucestershire – best known for the 99 overhanging yew trees in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church – has been triggered by the postmistress’s decision to sell her business.

Annie Littler has built up a thriving concern in the past five years but closes at 1pm for an hour each day and on Wednesday afternoons – a pattern established for more than 30 years. She has been trying to sell for two years and has just found a potential buyer for the £360,000 property.

But the Post Office has refused to sanction sale of the business unless the new owners open during lunch hours and on Wednesday afternoons.

The opening times observed in Painswick have long been abandoned in high streets around Britain. In rural communities, however, a “closed” sign on the door in the middle of the day remains a familiar sight.

Ms Littler, who is in her forties, is outraged. If the Post Office does not recant, she will lose her buyer, who does not wish to be burdened by the extra opening hours. Her home, which dates from 1428, is the oldest building in the country to house a post office. She cannot, however, sell it as a residential home because the local council wishes to keep a post office and shop on the premises.“I believe this nonnegotiable requirement for extra opening is devaluing my business,” she said. The issue has become a matter for the whole community. Villagers fear that if this is not resolved they will lose the post office. The parish council and the MP for Stroud, David Drew, have also intervened.

The decision by the Post Office to close 2,500 outlets may also have deterred buyers. Ms Littler claims that opening at lunchtime will not bring in extra trade. “Things go to sleep in this village at 1pm for an hour. There are not many businesses and if they need the post they come at the end of the day. There is no dramatic ebb and flow of visitors.”

Frances Lay, 47, a potential buyer, does not want to take on extra hours. Ms Lay, who has worked for a bank in London for many years, said: “I’m happy to open for 37 hours, but not for 45 hours. After working all hours, I’m looking forward to stopping for lunch each day. Otherwise I will pull out.”

Terry Parker, chairman of Painswick parish council, said he could understand if the post office were in a busy town with a steady number of shoppers. “This does not happen in Painswick. Most people regard the village lunch hour when shops are not open.”

A Post Office spokesman said: “We need a modern, sustainable network and that involves being open when customers want to use us.”

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