Sub postmasters and mistresses must be less negative if their businesses are to succeed, the minister responsible for pushing controversial changes through Parliament has told the Evening Press.

Alan Johnson, the minister responsible for the Government's Postal Services Bill, criticised a "gloom and doom" attitude among sub-postmasters.

Mr Johnson, himself a postman for 15 years, said that new opportunities must be embraced.

In an interview with the Evening Press, he warned that if they were not careful, sub-postmasters' claims that they would be put out of business might "become a self-fulfilling prophecy."

He said: "Part of the reason is the new generation coming up to pension age are used to banks. That migration is unavoidable but we have grasped the nettle.

"This Bill opens up whole new opportunities. But the introduction of Automated Credit Transfer does not even begin until 2003 and will not end until 2005. Sub-postmasters have people full of gloom and doom and if we are not careful that will become a self-fulfilling prophesy."

Mr Johnson said that with banks closing in small communities, post offices could take their place by holding bank accounts for local people.

He added that the Government was in the process of computerising the post office network to give it similar powers to banks and building societies, which would be particularly important in rural areas.

The National Federation of Sub-Postmasters said that 8,000 sub-post offices nationwide would close because of the Postal Services Bill. But Mr Johnson said: "There is no way we would let that happen. Post offices are an essential part of the social fabric of the country."

Richard Horseman, sub-postmaster of Strensall Post Office, hit back at the Minister's comments.

He said: "We have got rural banks, pubs and other businesses closing down, so it is no surprise we have got a pessimistic viewpoint when it comes to the post offices. I don't see how it can be self-fulfilling when they are doing it for us. If they gave us something tangible we wouldn't be so gloomy. We can't live on thin air."

Stephen Garside, sub-postmaster of Brockfield Post Office, said: "I'm a positive person but my biggest concern is the big loss of income we are facing. When a third of our income will be lost it is no wonder there is doom and gloom. It's too easy for him to say we have to be positive.