POST office bosses have begun the search for a new home for their Congleton counter business.

The move has been prompted by a decision by Woolworth not to renew its franchise agreement with the post office.

The post office has been based at the Woolworth store in High Street for four years, but will have to find a new Congleton base by February 2000.

''Woolworth have decided not to renew its franchise agreement with us, and we are advertising for a new partner to run the post office,'' said a Post Office Counters spokeswoman.

''We are fairly confident we will find an equally suitable partner in terms of size and location, which would have to be a retail operation.

''We want somewhere as near as possible to the existing post office, which offers the same number of customer positions and the same amount of space for customers.''

Post Office Counters are asking £75,000 to own the franchise for the business.

Woolworth press officer Mike McGann said the company was due to close its three franchise post offices, including Congleton, early next year.

They were opened as a trial, he said, but Woolworth had decided to end its post office franchise format.

The Congleton staff would be transferred to the new post office partner, he added.

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