NEWTON Abbot’s Post Office will be operating under reduced hours for a second week in a row as staff are reported to have resigned en masse.

The Queen Street branch has been operating under reduced hours since Monday, August 5, being closed completely on Tuesday, August 6, and Wednesday, August 7, respectively.

A sign in the Post Office cited staff illness as the reason, but the notice for the forthcoming week of reduced hours makes no mention of illness; and staff are said to have collectively tendered their resignations - it is not yet clear if the two are connected.

An excessive workload and staff feeling as though they are treated poorly are the reasons behind the mass exodus, the Mid-Devon Advertiser understands.

It should be noted that it is Cost Cutter operate the branch on behalf of the Post Office, so staff are employed by the former rather than the latter.

Both the Post Office and Cost Cutter have been approached for comment.

This revelation comes as Kingskerswell Post Office had to shut its doors after not generating sufficient income - a mobile Post Office van now visits the village.

Elsewhere, the weekly outreach service in Manaton will end on August 16.