The world's oldest Post Office has been saved - ending fears it would shut after more than 300 years (cloned)

The world's first and oldest Post Office - officially recognised by Guinness World Records - has been saved as faces a secure future after more than 300 years of trading.

New owners Barry and Mary Ford have announced they are taking over the Sanquhar Post Office, which first opened its doors in 1712.

The successful end to the long search for a new postmaster means the historic site will keep its accolade - and doors to the 311-year institution will remain open.

In recent years it has become an unlikely tourist attraction for stamp collectors, as well as a ‘lifeline’ for elderly people in the community of Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway, who depend on it for banking.

But there were fears for its future when the previous postmaster Dr Manzoor Alam, who had run it since 2015, announced his plan to retire in 2020.

Sadly, Dr Alam died last November and although Nazra had kept it running since, she said she had wanted to move back to the Midlands to be closer to her family.

Its closure would have seen the 'oldest' title conceded to a branch in Stockholm, Sweden, which opened in 1720.

But Mr and Mrs Ford have now become only the 17th owners in its long history - and said they were attracted to the site after discovering her old family links to the area.

Mrs Ford, 57, who was from Motherwell, researched her family tree after finding a pair of gloves in the Sanquhar pattern while going through her late mother's possessions.

This revealed family ties to the nearby town of Muirkirk and Mr Ford said when they read about the vacancy it was "fate."

They were living in Florida at the time.