A new Post Office has opened within a Lewisham newsagents months after a "national scandal" involving a loss of postal services.

The closure of the last Crown Post Office in the borough on Sydenham Road caused uproar among the 3,000 people who signed a petition against the plans.

Despite the closure, services continue to run through an independent shop in the area.

READ MORE: Anger as Sydenham Post Office set to close and become part of shop

A similar style Post Office service has now opened in Lewisham Road in the Mitco News shop.

Samantha Coe, area network change manager, said: "We want to make it as easy as possible for customers to pay their bills, withdraw cash from their bank accounts, and send and collect their mail at a time and place that suits them best.

"We know how important our services are to customers, and are confident that this brand new Post Office, alongside our 11,500 branches across the UK, will ensure that people in the community have easy access to our services."

The new Post Office services will be available seven days a week and will join the franchise in Lewisham High Street where customers can post letters and parcels.

Post Office say 97 per cent of its branches now run through retail partners on an agency or franchise basis.