POSTMASTERS across North Lincolnshire have spoken of their delight the network is keeping a major contract with the Government.

Pensions Secretary James Purnell announced the deal, which will be worth £1-billion to Post Offices nationally, in the House of Commons yesterday,

The Card Account receives payments for benefits, pensions and tax credits. It cannot go overdrawn and there are no charges.

The manager of Crowle Post Office, on High Street, Jane Shaw, said it was an important decision.

She said: "A lot of our business is Card Accounts. Many older people rely on the card account because they haven't always got bank accounts.

"So we are very pleased for them."

Barton-Upon-Humber postmistress Mairi Wingate, at the Burgate branch, said the announcement was good news.

She said: "It certainly would have effected us if we had lost the contract.

"We have had a lot of customers fill in the form over the summer.

"It is a service that our customers value."

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