The world’s oldest Post Office has been put on sale by its owners.

Open since 1712, the Post Office is located in Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway, and is for sale for £235,000.

The site, which is a popular attraction for postal and philatelic enthusiasts, is officially recognised by the Universal Postal Union - the governing body for postal administrations around the globe - and the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest Post Office in the world.

The branch is due to convert to the Post Office Local model where services are offered through the store’s main till rather than a separate counter. The change will take place once the new owner has taken over the site.

Its current owner Penny Murphy has run the post office with her husband Richard since 2011.

“After careful consideration Richard and I feel that now is an appropriate time for a change and is the reason why we have put our business up for sale,” she said. “We have loved our time in Sanquhar and have made many friends and are sure that the new owner of Sanquhar Post Office will be made equally welcome.”

Regional network manager for Scotland and the North Suzanne Richardson said: “We are looking for someone very special to replace Penny and take on the Post Office in Sanquhar; it combines a rich postal history with offering today’s wide range of Post Office services.

“While the Post Office is for sale, customers should be assured that it is ‘business as usual’ in Sanquhar. By becoming only the 16th person to run Sanquhar Post Office, the new owner would take their place in the roll-call of postal history.”

The sale is being handled by Humberstones.