Branch closure 'end of village'

The village's primary school is also threatened with closure

The closure of a post office could threaten the future of a village itself, a parish councillor has said.

Lydbury North's post office is one of 53 in Shropshire and Staffordshire earmarked for closure.

Parish council chairman Roger Plowden said it was another blow for the village, which also faces having its school closed by the county council.

The Post Office has said it wants to close branches because they cost too much to keep open.

Mr Plowden said closing the post office would not encourage people to live in the village, which is currently home to about 300 people.

He said many feared their local shop would also close if the post office attached to it shut down.

He said: "If you take out the post office, it has an effect on the viability of the shop.

"The school is already under threat. We're very worried about the effect that would have because the village then attracts less young people, less people with families and it affects the whole of the rural and the village and the community life.

"It's very sad."