Call to save rural post offices

Postmasters gathered in central London for a rally

Thousands of subpostmasters delivered a petition signed by four million people to Downing Street, calling for rural post offices to be saved.

Campaigners say 6,000 branches are under threat, with the current £150m-a-year subsidy for the rural network due to be withdrawn in 2008.

Peter Holloway, a subpostmaster from Wareham, Dorset, was among those who travelled to Westminster on Wednesday.

He said they were also angry the Post Office card account was under threat.

'Phased programme'

Mr Holloway told BBC News: "At the moment we have no promises at what will take its place, if anything, so post offices will lose a considerable amount of income plus government support. It doesn't look good for the future.

"If post offices are going to be closed, let's have a proper plan where we can have a phased programme of closure and provide cover for the local community so they still have a service.

"But at least give compensation to those postmasters who have to go out of business."

Speaking while the rally was taking place in London, Prime Minister Tony Blair said people were changing the way they used post offices, and there could be no extra subsidies.