A couple celebrated running Farnborough post office for 35 years and looked back over their time in the community.

Married for 45 years Kyriacos Kokkinos, 68, and his wife Theodoroa, 66, first arrived in 1980 with their three young children.

Ever since the duo have served the local community and despite working for more than three decades, he says they have never been robbed.

Mr Kokkinos said: "It's changed so much over the years! We used to have a butcher, green grocers; all these things are gone now.

"The Post Office is still going though! It's like a social club in here.

"We used to have all the pensioners lining up outside talking about their pensions, but everything is online these days.

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The couple with the letter 

"We don't do anything for the government anymore; people still keep coming in and asking for driving license forms and passports.

"I remember in the old days I had to start at about 4pm writing down all the cheques - I had about 150! Now we have two or three a week. Even the creme eggs are different.

"We used to get so many letters but it's just email, email, email these days."

In recognition of their hard work over the decades, Orpington MP Jo Johnson wrote a letter of congratulations.

Chair of The Farnborough Village Society Sue Ellis presented the letter at the High Street branch on February 7, which was followed by cake and champagne.

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Mr Kokkinos said: "I'm really proud to have got the letter, "My son-in-law came in saying there was an accident outside!

"Then I went out and saw everyone - it took me four or five minutes to recover from the shock. It was very emotional."

The grandfather of eight added: "I can't believe I've lasted 35 years! When I started I never thought I would.

"The people of Farnborough support us, I've had a lovely time here, I bought a house here so I can stay the rest of my life.

 
"I'm not going to retire just yet; we're part of the community."

Daughter Maria Theophilou said: "We hope they are there for another 35 years, however, we now want our parents to take it easy and consider retiring."