An innovative postmaster has stepped in to save the last remaining Maida Vale post office from total closure.

The Formosa Street post office, which was due to close a week today on Thursday, has been rescued after postmaster Dhimant Patel put £5,600 of his own money towards keeping the much-loved branch open.

His post office was one of 169 in London earmarked for closure by Post Office Ltd in February this year.

From next Monday Mr Patel, known as Dhi, who has run the post office for 30 years, will open up a post shop in place of the post office.

He explained: "We've been here for so long that we didn't want to have to close completely. We've had so much support locally to keep the post office open, that we wanted do to our best.

"People will still be able to come in and buy their stamps and transfer money, and we'll be offering a courier service for packages to be delivered over the busy Christmas period."

Chairman of the Little Venice Safer Neighbourhood ward panel Elizabeth Virgo helped launch a petition to save the branch, which was signed by more than 2,000 people.

While in March, around 400 people took part in a two mile protest parade between the Formosa Street branch and a post office in Loudon Road, St John's Wood, to highlight the effect the closure would have on elderly people.

But despite Mr Patel's good work, customers will not be able to receive benefit payments, pensions, or pay bills at the post shop. He added that he has opened up an off-licence in a bid to reduce losses to his business as a result of the move.