YORK residents have been urged to carry on collecting their benefits, pensions and tax credits at post offices.

The Post Office has launched a Carry On Collecting campaign, to inform the 13 million claimants who collect their benefits in cash from their local post office that they can continue doing this if they wish.

There was some confusion about collecting benefits after the Government started paying some benefits directly into bank accounts in April.

Graham Halliday, financial and banking services director, said: "It's vital that our customers know what these changes to direct payment mean to them and how they can continue to collect their benefits in cash at post office branches if they choose to do so."

The special road show was held in Parliament Street, York, yesterday.

Mr Halliday said: "The service is at the heart of the community and provides a vital service to millions of people. We want our customers to keep collecting their benefit from us, through the trusted and friendly face-to-face service we provide.

"By choosing to use us, customers can help us to secure a viable future for post office branches."

Updated: 10:18 Saturday, August 09, 2003