A village post office which has been run by the same family for over 40 years has been saved from closure.

Llanboidy Post Office, which looked set to be replaced with a mobile service, will now stay open under a partnership agreement with Kilgetty Post Office.

It will continue to operate from Llanboidy's Spar shop, where owner Rodney Williams is sub-postmaster.

"We are very fortunate to have this new partnership," said Mr Williams, whose mother was sub-postmistress in the family shop from 1962 until 1991. "It's a way forward to keep the shop going and the post office open, and I don't think our customers will see a lot of difference."

Llanboidy fought one of the strongest campaigns in Wales against the Post Office's Network Change programme, with more than 300 people attending a public meeting. The protest attracted strong local political support, but the force of the campaign was not the factor that secured the partnership service, said Royal Mail spokesman Dave Wall.

"Until the offer of the partnership came from Kilgetty sub-postmaster John Murphy, our only option for Llanboidy was to introduce a mobile service," he explained. "The changed circumstances are because of this opportunity arising. We are very pleased this has come about - it's a good win for both us and the community."

Nearly 30 small local businesses are amongst regular customers of the post office in Llanboidy, which attracts trade from several miles around.

Added Mr Williams: "It's been a bit of a roller-coaster since the closure proposal was announced and it's quite a relief that we know where we are at last.

"This would not have happened but for the loyalty and support we have had from the community, and everyone else involved in the campaign."