A TWO-YEAR battle to bring a cash machine to a Blackburn village has been won -- just in time for the annual sales!

Residents of Cherry Tree will no longer have to travel miles to get their hands on ready money, thanks to a recently-installed cash machine.

The 'hole in the wall' has been set up outside Cherry Tree Post Office, Preston Old Road, by the Alliance and Leicester.

The move follows a long campaign by the post office, residents and other businesses who argued there was a need for an ATM in the area.

The machine can be used by customers of other banks 24 hours a day without service charges.

Tracy Fleming, 38, manager of the post office, led the campaign with the support of residents and businesses.

She said that it had been an uphill struggle but campaigners were celebrating a thoroughly deserved success.

Tracy said: "We have tried for so long to get one. Our customers used to come in and say they wanted one and we could see the need. But it took ages for anyone to even come and have a look. The other banks weren't interested.

"In Cherry Tree we've got a lot of shops and pubs and people used to have to go into town to get some money."

Barry Brook, manager of the Beehive pub, Preston Old Road, said he welcomed the news and had given his support to the campaign in the past. He said: "It's a great idea. My customers have said they've wanted a cash point one for ages.

"Until now they've had to go get a taxi to get some money and then come back. For that reason I thought about getting a cash point in the pub a couple of years ago.

"As it happens it didn't come about, but now we have one it's great."

Peter Brown, spokesman for Alliance and Leicester, said that when their officers arrived in Cherry Tree they could see the need straight away.

"It's amazing they never had one before. We've got a continuing ATM expansion programme and have already opened 2,000 and are still planning to expand our network.

"We have a very close working relationship with the Post office and when Cherry Tree approached us, we were only too happy to help.

"The Post Office is a focal point for people and an essential facility for local communities."