Millions of pounds are to be invested in maintaining the Westcountry's vital post office network, the Government has announced.
Under a £640 million investment boost, ministers said the current number of 11,500 branches would be maintained until 2018, services would be improved and a "new style" of branch introduced.
Paula Vennells, chief executive of the Post Office, said: "The additional funding allows us to develop our branch investment programme and bring its benefits to more customers.
"It will see up to 8,000 branches modernised and additional investment in over 3,000 community and outreach branches. Over 1,400 have already been modernised since April 2012, with 34,400 additional opening hours across the UK.
"The size of the branch network will be maintained at around its current position of over 11,500 post office branches. Customers have been clear, that they want Post Office services in their communities and on high streets, we want this too whilst also meeting their changing needs, and in turn helping subpostmasters thrive."
Post offices across Devon and Cornwall, particularly in isolated villages, are regarded as a vital community assets and social hubs.
Nick Harvey, Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, said the new investment was "excellent news".
He added: "In a rural area like ours, the Post Office is a vital part of the community and a service many people rely on.
"I'm sure the residents of Forches and Combe Martin will appreciate the longer opening hours and faster service this funding will help deliver."
Fellow Lib Dem MP Dan Rogerson, who represents North Cornwall, added: "In our area residents have appreciated the modernisation of the post offices at Launceston, South Petherwin and Tintagel.
"Under successive Conservative and Labour governments we saw thousands of post offices close, including branches in Trevone, Marhamchurch, Tregadillett and at Newport in Launceston.
"Instead of spending money on closing Post Offices like Labour did with their closure programme, Liberal Democrats in the coalition Government are investing to maintain and modernise our post offices for the future."
National Federation of Subpostmasters general secretary George Thomson said the new money, alongside the change programme, would allow many branches "to build and enhance their retail business and give their post office a chance of a more viable future".
But, he cautioned: "The changes to Network Transformation will undoubtedly mean a radical reconfiguration of the post office network, which is only necessary as a result of the Government's total failure to provide the promised new 'front office for government' work for post offices."
Concerns were also raised by Consumer Futures, which said much of the new package would be spent making it compulsory for subpostmasters to leave or convert to a new-style branch.
Director Adam Scorer said: "This raises real questions about how the public would be served if new branch models do not appeal to a wider range of subpostmasters and retailers.
"There are also long-term questions over the future of post offices in communities where a new operator cannot easily be found, for example in many edge-of-town and suburban locations.
"There are increasing risks that the programme will be led by the needs of operators, not consumers, and that in order to appeal to new operators the potential benefits of new operating models, for example longer opening hours, could be squeezed."
