ALSAGER residents are being urged into action to help save a town post office from the axe.

Royal Mail bosses have earmarked the Audley Road branch for closure, as the latest in a line of offices to be scrapped as part of a national shake-up of the service.

The town council held a special meeting to discuss the future of the post office and have sent a representation to Post Office bosses in an attempt to save the branch.

Residents and councillors fear the closure could leave elderly and disabled residents out in the cold, with families in the east of the town having to trek to the office in Lawton Road.

The missive to Post Office chiefs said: "The town council note, with extreme disappointment, the proposed closure of the Audley Road branch and asks for the Post Office to look for alternative accommodation in the immediate location.

"The Post Office is a focal point for the elderly of this area, because it is a Post Office, shop and off-licence.

"Many pensioners still have not got bank accounts and some still like to receive their pension in cash.

"Pensioners using the branch will have to pay the bus fare to travel into the town to the Lawton Road Post Office, which will be an additional expense.

"Those will mobility problems will have the added inconvenience of having to travel to Lawton Road."

Councillors also demanded to know what improvements would be made to the Lawton Road branch to cope with the added pressure should the closure go ahead.

But Royal Mail chiefs said the Lawton Road office could cope with the extra customers and at less than half a mile from the Audley Road store, the closure would not cause too many problems.

Spokesman Paul Maisey said: "Even after any changes are made, more than 95% of customers will live within a mile of a branch."

People are urged to voice their concerns by writing to the National Consultation Team, PO Box 641, St Albans, AL15XN before August 29.