A £60 million package to help struggling rural post offices fight the threat of closure has received a cautious welcome in Swindon.

The European Commission has approved the cash handout to small outlets hit by moves to end over-the-counter payments of pensions and benefits.

Now the package will pay for changes to allow customers to make cash withdrawals from their bank accounts at rural sub-post offices.

They will also be able to send parcels, renew television licences, pay bills and gain access to other government services and information.

Liz Bishop, who works at the post office in Lydiard Millicent, said: "We don't know what's going to happen. There's a big pot of money, but I can't comment on what will happen with that."

"The banking options are already there for people. It's now a question of educating the public to use them. We need to keep that loyalty to the post office."