Plans to save threatened post offices with council tax money have been left "in limbo".

More than 50 branches in Sussex face the axe after sweeping Government closures were pushed through.

In a bold step, Lewes District Council chiefs entered into talks with Post Office Ltd to try to save two branches through a community buyout scheme.

Plans for the branches in Landport in Lewes and Claremont Road in Seaford were due to be discussed in secret at a meeting of the council's post office closure sub-committee yesterday.

But the committee was denied the chance to look at vital information which could help keep the branches open, which led to deputy council leader Jon Freeman accusing the Post Office of "rank hypocrisy".

Councillor Freeman said: "We had a meeting with the Post Office on February 14 and signalled our intention to look at keeping those branches open.

"We asked for figures and expected them at the committee meeting but they refused to give us the data and instead gave us figures for branches in Chailey and Fairways in Seaford, which face no prospect of remaining open."

Angie Hindocha has run the Claremont Road branch alongside her newsagents for 20 years.

Coun Freeman added: "The idea would be that someone like the district council would act as an agent and Angie would still be able to run the branch.

"But because that is not profitable for the Post Office they refuse to let us see the figures.

"This is rank hypocrisy and I am very angry. Time is running out and we are being left in limbo."

Postwatch, an independent watchdog for the industry, backed the campaign to keep the Landport branch open, saying its closure would lead to huge queues at the branch in Lewes High Street.

The council will now write to Post Office Ltd and seek a meeting with post office minister Pat McFadden.

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: "Post offices provide an essential service to local people, yet the Government is intent on closing them.

"They have spent billions on Northern Rock but are not prepared to spend a fraction of this on local post offices."

Across the country some 2,500 branches face closure. Essex County Council revealed plans to spend up to £18,000 a year subsidising each of its 15 branches facing the axe.

Scores of councils are now considering following in Essex's footsteps, with Lewes among the first to act.

Post Office Ltd was unavailable for comment.