Posts go at three sorting offices

Royal Mail plans to implement the changes in 2009

Nearly 900 posts are to go with the closure of three postal sorting offices in Greater Manchester.

Royal Mail has confirmed the offices in Stockport, Oldham and Bolton are to shut in the next two years.

The closures are part of plans to create a new regional distribution centre in Warrington and four delivery offices in Liverpool and Manchester.

Unions have said they will fight the closures, which Royal Mail said will not come into force before 2009.

'Most economical'

Ian Young from the Communications Workers' Union (CWU) said he could not understand why the decision had been made.

"We can't see the reasoning why Bolton has to close, because Bolton actually performs an outstanding job - it's the most economical site in the North West," he said.

"We are saying that that is wrong.

"They should go away and have a look at our figures again and come up and tell us that our figures are wrong, because they are not wrong, they're right."

Royal Mail said the re-organisation was about improving services and workers would be offered relocation to other bases across the North West of England.