A FORMER Post Office in Carlisle is to be turned into a bar creating 20 new jobs.

Plans have been passed to transform the former home of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Old Post Office Square, near the Thin White Duke, into a bar and kitchen.

Tring Estates, of Friars Court, applied to the city council for change of use from an office to food and drink use and this has been granted.

The application says a kitchen, bar and toilets will be installed with unisex disabled toilets on the ground floor.

It says: "The sheltered sunny aspect of the area in front of the buildings lends itself to outdoor use and seating and it is intended these areas will be utilised for open air dining in conjunction with the facilities in the building. "The raised area immediately in front of the building will be extended to provide additional seating adjacent to the building, a ramp will be incorporated into this extended area to accommodate wheelchair access to the building, and steps will be formed to provide access to the lower garden area.

"Retractable fabric canopies, attached to the building, will be installed to provide sun screening and shelter to the raised area adjacent to the building."

A screening fence will be put up to mask the bins and refuse area.

The three properties are originally thought to have been erected as a purpose built Post Office, with adjoining attached residential accommodation for the Post Master.

The Square was originally accessed via an alleyway leading directly to English Street, at that time access to Friars Court was blocked by a pair of houses which extended the existing terrace on Friars Court.

Subsequent 20th century redevelopment of the buildings fronting on to English Street resulted in the blocking off the alleyway, and the demolition of the end two units of the terrace resulted in access to the site being formed directly from Friars Court.

After ceasing to be a Post Office, the buildings have had a variety of uses including a jewellers, and a drapers.

Most recently the property was used as the offices of Citizens Advice, who relocated to new premises on Lowther Street in May last year.

Princess Anne visited the building in 2015 when it was the Citizens Advice Bureau.