CAMPAIGNERS in Clifton, York, have thanked locals for their support in the fight against closure of the local post offices.

Councillors collected more than 2,000 signatures against the proposed closure of the branches at Clifton Green and Haxby Road.

David Scott, ward councillor and Labour group leader on City of York Council, said: "The public have rallied around and shown how they feel about the proposed closures.

"We will be sending a letter off with the signatures to the consultation team and hope they are swayed by the weight of public opinion, as well as the very many good reasons why these post offices ought to stay open."

Fellow councillors Helen Douglas and Ken King, as well as local MP Hugh Bayley, have all collected signatures since Post Office Ltd announced its plans to cut 2,500 sub-post offices from the network.

Coun King said: "Post office closures for any area can be devastating and Clifton is no different. We know the criteria set out for keeping post offices open and that the level of social deprivation plays a major part.

"That doesn't mean that with a forceful argument we can't convince those responsible that closing these post offices is absolutely the wrong thing to do. This petition is one way of doing that and I thank the public for their support."

Coun Douglas said: "Closing two post offices and leaving only one in the ward is really my main worry in all of this. It will place added strain on the one remaining, one which we can not guarantee will remain open indefinitely either."