Real-llife soap opera (From Malvern Gazette)

Real-llife soap opera

10:26am Friday 16th March 2007 in News By Tarik Al Rasheed

Comings and goings at a rural post office are being broadcast across the globe.

Suckley Post Office's website offers video access to what is going on both in the store and in the road outside.

Post office owner Roger Blackburn said the unique feature was proving popular both within the community and further afield, with regular viewers in Poland, Greece and even Australia.

"I already had a webcam which I used to speak to my daughter in Australia, and the video stream was just an idea to let people know what was going on in the shop," he said. "I know one lady watches it from Perth to see if her sister or anyone she knows is in the shop, and I think there are one or two people who come in just to be on camera!"

Mr Blackburn originally started the website nine months ago to advertise the post office's DVD rental service, but it has grown into a one-stop shop for news and events happening in the village.

"We've tried to interest all the local clubs and societies, and it has become a proper service for the community," said Mr Blackburn.

To discover the site for yourself visit www.suckleypo.co.uk.