Stamp protest over post closure

Campaigners say Abbotskerswell is busy enough to be saved

More than 70 people queued to buy one stamp each at a post office in a Devon town to protest against plans to close their village branch a few miles away.

Abbotskerswell post office was not on the Royal Mail's original list of 37 to close in Devon, but was named when the final list was announced.

Protesters each bought a second-class stamp at the nearest branch in Newton Abbot to highlight their concerns.

A six-week consultation is taking place about Abbotskerswell's future.

'No choice'

The 37 branches earmarked for closure in Devon began to cease trading from August.

The consultation for the Abbotskerswell runs until 22 September.

Campaigner Liz Taylor said: "Abbotskerswell is one of the busiest village post offices in Devon.

"We are quite shocked because of that."

Post Office Ltd said it had no choice but to make the cuts after the government told it to close up to 2,500 branches in a bid to stem losses of £4m a week.

A total of 32 of the branches being closed will be replaced by outreach services, for example mobile post offices.