IT first opened in the days when mail arrived by carriage and horses could bed down in the stables next door.

IT first opened in the days when mail arrived by carriage and horses could bed down in the stables next door.

Now the world's oldest post office, in Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway, is to have a new owner - its 16th in its 300-year history.

Dr Manzoor Alam, a keen philatelist and postal historian, stepped forward to run the branch when outgoing postmistress Penny Murphy announced she was stepping down, throwing the office's future into doubt.

Sanquhar Post Offce dates back to 1712 and is recognised by the Universal Postal Union and the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest post office in the World, easily beating its closest rivals in Stockholm, Sweden, and the Chilean capital of Santiago, which date back to 1720 and 1772 respectively.

Dr Alam, who will take over in January, said: ??I am very pleased to be appointed the new postmaster of Sanquhar Post Office and proud to be preserving the heritage of this post office, which has been here for more than 300 years.

??The post office provides vital products and services to the residents of Sanquhar, and is also a key part of Scotland??s postal history."