Horizon issues push post-mistress to close branch

A sub-postmistress is closing a Post Office branch after running it for 22 years because ongoing stress linked to Horizon IT software has left her feeling "physically sick coming to work every day".

Shann Brede said in that time running Goldsithney Post Office in Cornwall, she had paid more than £20,000 of her own money to correct errors made by the system.

The software was at the heart of the Post Office scandal, in which hundreds of sub-postmasters were accused or convicted of theft and fraud over the past 20 years because of the faulty computer system.

The Post Office said it was "sorry" to hear of her experiences and thanked her for "the time she has given to running her branch."

Mrs Brede said she continued to have difficulties with the system and it was causing her ongoing stress.

She said: "Last week, halfway through a transaction of several parcels the system froze and once I had got it back, Horizon had sold 157 £2.80 stamps all by itself."

"There is no alternative, it [Horizon software] has to be used. It doesn't work, it makes mistakes", she explained.

Although she was no longer required to balance the books using her own money, she said she felt under pressure when issues arose.

She said: "I feel physically sick coming in to work every day, I just dread it."

Mrs Brede's experiences formed part of a BBC documentary about the Post Office scandal earlier this year and the local community offered her support.

"I love this community and that's where the big guilt is that I am leaving them in the lurch but I don't know what else to do," she added.

Local resident Mike Trenwith said the closure was "very sad".

He said: "There is a lot of elderly people who just walk up here for their pensions and a bit of a chat."

Another village resident, Dan Rainbow, said: "When the Post Office closes it's not just the lack of service, it's the effect it has on the community and the relationships we have."

A Post Office spokesperson said: "We are very sorry to hear about the experience of our Postmistress for Goldsithney. The focus of today's Post Office is to support postmasters to run profitable branches and to offer support if issues occur. Our team is in contact with her to resolve the issues which she has raised.

"Postmasters across the UK work tirelessly to serve their communities and we would like to thank the Postmistress for Goldsithney for the time she has given to running her branch."

The Post Office said it had looked into the discrepancy highlighted over the stamp purchase and believe it could be linked to using a Horizon terminal rather than a separate retail till for certain items.

It said if retail stock was entered in a Horizon terminal rather than a separate till it could lead to errors that cause a discrepancy.

It intends to clear the £82 from the account.

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