CUSTOMERS reacted with anger today at news that seven York post offices face the axe as part of a nationwide cost-cutting programme.

Branches in Albemarle Road, Bishopthorpe Road, Boroughbridge Road, Clarence Street, Fishergate, Gale Lane and Holgate Road could shut their doors in November following a review of the service.

Post Office bosses said fewer customers, increased costs and changes to the way benefits are paid were threatening the entire network and the cutbacks will secure the remaining businesses' future.

But York MP Hugh Bayley said the Post Office was "going too far" by closing services at the "heart of our communities" which were a lifeline for elderly and less mobile people.

Users said today that they would fight to keep their local shops open, rather than travel long distances to pick up their pensions and benefits, and do their banking.

David Mellows-Facer, of the Post Office, said there were now 25 branches in the city and if all the closures went ahead, the vast majority of customers would still have a branch within one mile of their homes. He said: "The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business."

Mr Bayley said he had written to each of the postmasters and mistresses affected, but none of them said they opposed the moves. He said: "Post offices are at the heart of our communities and elderly people are especially dependent on the services they offer. I want to make strong representations to the Post Office, but in order to do so I need to know which closures will cause the most problems."

Mr Bayley has also called on residents affected to contact him so he can lobby for popular branches to remain open. The Post Office has also begun a public consultation.

The planned closures come as part of a two-year drive to slim down the nationwide post office network of 9,000 urban branches. Similar plans were announced in Bradford today.

Trevor Harrison, of Markham Crescent, York, said his local branch was a lifeline for himself and his ageing mother. He said: "As a registered blind person I use the post office very regularly. My mother has had two hip replacements so she can't walk very far. I don't what she would do if we lost the local post office."

Bishopthorpe Road Post Office user Peter Rann, 76, of Fulford, said: "This is a real shame. This is a really nice shopping area. There is everything you need here."

Kerry Simpson, 23, of South Bank, said: "My lad comes here to buy stuff all the time. It's a real pain that it's going to be closing."

An 82-year-old woman outside Fishergate post office said: "It's extremely inconvenient that they are thinking of closing this post office which is a lifeline for this community."

Updated: 10:45 Thursday, August 19, 2004