Post Office grows currency sales

George Washington is coming to another Post Office near you

The Post Office is to more than double the number of branches which offer on-demand Bureau de Change services.

It says it is increasing the provision to keep up with the ever-growing amount of cash UK holiday makers spend abroad.

The number of its branches offering the service will rise from 640 to 1,690, as some 15 million British people are expected to spend £30bn abroad in 2004.

It comes, however, as the Post Office faces rising publicity over possible branch closures.

At the start of this week a report by the London Assembly said that half of all Post Offices in London faced closure.

And more than 1,600 rural post offices could be shut down following a recent review by the Postal Services Commission, PostComm.

Closure fears

The Post Office says the increase in the number of branches offering foreign currency exchange means it will have double the number of Bureau de Change counters as its nearest rival.

TOP FIVE CURRENCIES SOLD THROUGH THE POST OFFICE 1. Euro 2. US dollar 3. Cypriot pound 4. Canadian dollar 5. Turkish lira Source: Post Office

"UK holidaymakers are clearly shopping around for their foreign currency, with the vast majority ensuring they get the best deal possible by going to the High Street before leaving for the airport," said Kevin McAdam, head of travel and leisure at the Post Office.

"We predict this will be a bumper year for overseas spending by UK holidaymakers."