Proposals to allow customers the right of appeal against moves to close or relocate their local post offices in Scotland have been described as "meaningless".

The UK Government said the new powers, to be included in the Post Office Bill, underline its commitment to a nationwide post office network where people have convenient access to services near to their homes.

However, Green MSP Robin Harper said the plans did not go far enough and the Scottish National Party accused ministers of forcing post office closures.

In recent years the number of local post office closures has risen, with sometimes serious effects on rural or socially deprived areas.

Scotland Office Minister Brian Wilson acknowledged that Scotland has been particularly badly hit - with the post office playing a central role in the life of remote parts of the country.

Mr Wilson said the bill - to be introduced at Westminster in the New Year - sets out an appeal procedure if people want to object to a closure in their area and are not satisfied with the answers they get from the Post Office itself.

Particular attention would be paid to rural and socially deprived areas.

However, he stressed: "I think that not just rural areas, where it is a vital service, will benefit but also parts of cities where there are not many services on people's doorsteps.

"This right of appeal, this mechanism, for having the decision to have a sub post office closure challenged will be very widely welcomed."

But Mr Harper said: ""This really is a sop. It's meaningless to grant leave to appeal. People appeal anyway and nothing happens.

"To simply invent a new process I don't think is going to help at all.

"The government should do something more radical. They're talking about reducing rates on rural pubs, which are closing at an alarming rate. Post offices would also benefit from lower rates."

The SNP reacted angrily to the announcement, saying people should not have to appeal in the first place.

The parrty accused the government of attempting to cover up the fact that it was allowing more and more local post offices to close.

Nationalists said ministers should be looking at ways of using them more creatively, by offering services like banking.