The main Ilkley town centre post office will close for more than a week in February as extensive refurbishment work takes place.

Ilkley Post Office, Station Plaza, will close at 3pm on Monday February 18 and re-open on Thursday February 28 with a new open-plan look and extended opening hours.

Customers are being directed to alternative branches in Ben Rhydding, Addingham, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Otley while the refurbishment is taking place.

The Ilkley office will be open for an additional 11 hours each week, opening from 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday.

Post Office regional network manager for Central England, Adrian Wales, said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Ilkley and we are confident this new modern Post Office service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused by refurbishment.”

He added: “This modernisation is part of a three-year investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office, that will see 6,000 branches, about half the Post Office network, converting to new-style branches.

“This investment makes a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

The Post Office says the modernisation will turn the Ilkley office into a new “main” style open-plan branch.

It will have five serving positions, a mixture of two screened, two open plan and one Post Office serving point for use at the retail counter.

The network says this is a new concept for delivering Post Office products and services alongside retail transactions during shop opening hours.

Customers are advised to use post offices at 117 to 119 Main Street, Addingham, 56 Wheatley Lane, Ben Rhydding, Station Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale, or Nelson Street, Otley, while Ilkley is closed.

Burley Post Office offers a bureau de change service, Eurodollar, motor vehicle licences, lottery and travel insurance.

Services available at Otley Post Office include bureau de change on demand, motor vehicle licences, AEI, driving licences, passport service and travel insurance.