A Post Office has been converted into a barbers, having been vacant since February.

The Bockhanger Post Office in Kennington had been run by Sunny Dhanda for 16 years before it closed due to a lack of custom.

Now the site has a new look, with people desperate to get a post-lockdown trim having another site to choose from.

Bockhanger Barbers started operating out of the Bockhanger Square unit last month.

The area’s Ashford Borough Council representative, Cllr Diccon Spain (Lab), said: “I am pleased to see this new business opening in and expanding the range of services available in this important location.

“Meanwhile, I continue to fight to get the council to recognise that these shops and services still need new community facilities on this site to really thrive long-term.”

The barbers is open from Monday to Saturday between 9am and 6pm, but is closed on Sundays.

In February, the Post Office said it was “working hard to restore a service to the area as soon as possible”.

But now the closest alternative Post Office is in Faversham Road.

Mr Dhanda, who also runs Dhanda Stores which is in the same parade of shops as the former Post Office, said the loss of the 50-year-old Bockhanger Community Centre had hurt footfall at his site.

Last year, a petition campaigning for a replacement community hub attracted 1,700 signatures.

But the petition - set up by ward member Cllr Spain - was rejected by ABC.

The former community centre was demolished last year and the site has sat vacant since.