The Government has been urged to intervene in the threatened closures of four of a town's 19 post offices.

Eastbourne Tory MP Nigel Waterson has written to Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, expressing his anger about the conduct of the Post Office.

Branches in Avard Crescent, Church Street and Compton Street in Eastbourne will close in December and the main Upperton Road office will shut on February 7.

Mr Waterson accused The Post Office of flawed public consultation, saying managers ignored overwhelming opposition from thousands of protesters.

In his letter to Ms Hewitt, Mr Waterson said: "I thought you should be acquainted with the thoroughly unsatisfactory approach shown by The Post Office to this 'consultation'.

"I am afraid my impression of The Post Office is that it regarded the consultation from start to finish as a mere irritation."

Mr Waterson asked if Government could get the Post Office to ensure procedures were carried out in a "proper fashion".

It has said closing about 3,000 of its 9,000 urban branches is vital to the loss-making company's survival.

Thursday November 20, 2003