A YORK post office earmarked for closure will shut nine days earlier than originally planned.

The Eastholme Drive Post Office, in Rawcliffe, will close its doors from 1pm on June 20, instead of June 29 as previously stated.

The Post Office said the earlier closure was because the premises where the branch was located would no longer be available after that date.

The Evening Press reported last month that the Post Office said it had terminated the contract of the current sub-postmaster William Betteridge.

Mr Betteridge declined to comment on the issue of his contract.

Until a new branch opens, customers are being advised to use Clifton Post Office, in Clifton Green; Crichton Avenue Post Office; and York Post Office, in Lendal.

A Post Office spokesman said: "There has been some interest expressed in the vacancy and we have visited the area to determine what options there might be.

"We are working hard to find a way of restoring services to the area as soon as possible.

"In the meantime, we apologise for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause our customers," he said

"The closure date has been brought forward so that automated equipment can be removed."

Rawcliffe councillor Irene Waudby said the earlier closure was bound to cause inconvenience for residents in her constituency.

"There are a number of elderly people in Rawcliffe who can't travel very far.

"They were encouraged to stay with the Post Office for banking and now we have no idea when there will be another branch," she said.

"I can't think where they would put one.

"This earlier closure is going to be a very bad thing and it will be very difficult for some people to get access to their money."

Applicants for the vacancy, who must be able to provide suitable, alternative premises, should phone the Post Office's agency recruitment section on 08456 016260.

Updated: 10:01 Tuesday, June 14, 2005