A PAIR of determined Darton postmasters who pledged their thrice-flooded shop would not close celebrated this week as they reopened for business.

Jill and Anthony Auty were soon back in the swing of things at Darton post office, greeting customers with big smiles as they opened the doors for business on Monday morning.

The couple had no choice but to shut shop last year after the River Dearne burst its banks, flooding the building twice in summer and again in January.

They were forced to close for nine months until the building dried out as their business, and adjoining home, had been ravaged by a deluge of water leaving it saturated and covered in sludge and silt.

Jill, 39, told the Chronicle it was a long time for a post office to be out of action.

She added: "You worry whether people will come back or not after such a long time being out of it.

"I was really nervous on Monday morning wondering how it would all go, if people would come back and if i could remember what to do but it's like being home again. It feels wonderful.

"Locals have been popping in through the day to congratulate us and saying how great it is to have us back."