DEADLINE day to save Leftwich Green and Winnington Post Offices passed yesterday, Tuesday.

The two post offices face the axe in Post Offices Ltd latest round of closures, which will see the UK's 9,000 urban post offices reduced to 6,000 by the end of 2004.

Rural post offices - defined as those in areas with less than 10,000 people - are not under threat but it will be a few weeks before customers of Leftwich Green and Winnington find out whether their comments have made an impact.

Graham Moore, a spokesman for Post Office Ltd, confirmed that comments about both offices had been received but was unable to say what their content was or how many representations to save the offices were made.

He said: "We would need to see some robust arguments to alter the decision to close the Leftwich Green and Winnington post offices.

"It wouldn't be based on the fact that 1,000 people signed a petition. A decision would only be based on the issues raised."

Jobs

In March 2002 sub-post masters of urban offices were offered compensation packages by Post Offices Ltd if they chose to leave their jobs.

Graham said: "Unfortunately many people seem to think that post offices should be there for the sake of it but a post office is a business for the person running it."

But people from Winnington and Leftwich Green fear closing the post offices puts their communities under threat.

When 58-year-old Terri Washburn, of Penrhyn Road, Winnington found out about the closures she said: "I'm so shocked. They pick the places that have got the least facilities. We haven't got a community centre here and the post office provides a community point where people can meet and catch up on local news."

If Leftwich Green closes customers are advised to use Davenham Post Office, half a mile away or the main post office in Northwich. Winnington customers are also advised to use the main post office or Castle Post Office, a mile away.

ecummins@guardiangrp.co.uk