The Welsh Assembly has announced that grants worth a total of £849,658 will be given to 87 post offices across the country.

The grants, made available under the Post Office Diversification Fund, are designed to help post offices expand their business and offer new services to the community.

Corwen sub-Post Office in Clwyd South received £20,000 and will use it to install a coffee shop, CCTV and ICT facilities.

Minister for Local Government and Communities Carl Sargeant said that the funding has helped many post offices serve their communities better.

“I am delighted that another 87 post offices have benefitted from Welsh government funding,” said Sargeant. “Grants under the Post Office Diversification Fund have helped post offices across Wales become more sustainable through maintaining their current business whilst expanding into new product lines and services which are not already provided in the local community.”

The Post Office Diversification Fund was set up in December 2008 and £3.5m has been awarded to 229 post offices throughout Wales. The fund is now closed to further applications with an evaluation report on its impact due in the autumn which will be used to decide the future direction of post office funding.