As reported by the Express last week, the post office has been included in plans to axe up to 2,500 branches across the UK.

Post Office Ltd launched a seven-week public consultation process to find out if the branches picked for closure were appropriate after announcing the list of proposed closures last Tuesday.

Decisions were reached after considering factors like transport, alternative post office services and the impact on local economies.

But plans to close the Hemsworth branch have been met with massive protest from local folk.

Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett has launched a petition against the closures – and hundreds of people have already signed it.

Mr Trickett said: “I’ve been contacted by a number of people about post offices since the proposed closure announcements who have given their support to the campaign to keep a full post office network up and running.

“Petitions have gone out, and I encourage everyone to sign them.

“A good few people have been getting in touch because they want a copy of the petition to get friends and relatives to sign as well.

“People in our area depend on their local post office branches and I am entirely against      closures.”

Residents can sign the petition by visiting www.jontrickett .org.uk or by calling into Mr Trickett’s office on Market Street, Hemsworth.