Support has been flooding in for the Evening Press Counter Attack campaign from those who rely on their local post offices.

Sub post offices could be under threat if the Government goes ahead with plans to pay benefits directly into bank accounts rather than over the counter at post offices.

Fears have been expressed that this would leave pensioners and single mothers marooned without cash and would also take its toll on the commercial life of rural communities.

Richard Horseman, 50, who has run Strensall post office for 13 years, fears his business would be under severe threat if the Government proposals go through.

He says practically every single customer coming into his post office has voluntarily signed a petition.

"Tony Blair needs to apply some of this joined-up Government, he's been talking about.

"They haven't thought about the repercussions of doing something like this. I think the rural community is going to end up a wasteland if we're not careful."

Here are some of the comments we have received

STRENSALL: "There is no bank in this village and it would mean all senior citizens travelling to Haxby or York by bus" - Irene Ridgeon

Bishopthorpe: "It is an essential amenity for older residents, mothers with young children and an economy for the rest" - Hazel Jamieson

YORK: "The post office is important because it serves so many young families and the elderly and it also provides GIRO banking. The postmaster and his staff are most helpful" - Mrs D Cartwright

YORK: "The village post office is a must. Many older people only see their friends when they collect their pensions and have a good old natter. It's also about something especially British, the village post office and the village pub" - Kathleen Ross

KIRK HAMMERTON: "We need our village post office desperately. Our village pub has closed down and there is no focal point if the post office closes" - Mrs D Fennell

YORK: "It is a lifeline for the elderly and those without transport and on benefits. An integral part of community life which should not be lost" - Mrs D Radford

BISHOPTHORPE: "I do not have a bank account except for the post office. I am 84 years old and need the post office full stop" - Mrs Russell-Reynolds

TOLLERTON: "Easingwold is our nearest office. If it went an excellent shop would probably go too. It would devastate village life" - Mrs M Park

ACOMB: "This post office is convenient to both my wife and I who are both old-age pensioners. Banks are not convenient to us" - Mr J Allman

STAMFORD BRIDGE: "We need the post office for pensions, paying bills, licences, stamps etc as do many villages that have to use it in this area"

- Mrs M Rennison

TOLLERTON: "It is essential it stays open as there are an awful lot of widows and pensioners who have no transport" - Mrs E Herrington

YORK: "Pensioners would have to go to their bank to obtain cash, incurring bus fares and elderly people do not use cash machines for fear of muggers" - R Garner

LINTON-ON-OUSE: "We are pensioners and neither of us drive, so we depend on the local post office" - Mrs M Miller

YORK: "It would be very inconvenient to have to go to town every week" - Mrs J Gabell

New Earswick: "We have no bank in New Earswick. I am unable to get about so the village post office is ideal to have" - Mrs M Sharpe

YORK: "It is convenient for a number of people for stamps and other things. People who can't get into town" - Mrs K Clarke

HEMINGBROUGH: "It is a lifeline for pensioned widows like myself. We get £8 in bus tokens for a year and the bus fare to Selby to collect a pension is £1.95" - Mrs E Burt

YORK: "For many pensioners in this area this may be their only day out and a personal service counts" - G Melson

SHIPTON: "We are pensioners depending on our post office for pensions, stamps parcels etc and have no bank account"- Joseph and Eva Brown

SKELTON: "We use it to collect retirement pensions and postal accessories. It is a convenience for old people" - Mr and Mrs Hodgson

MALTON: "It is indispensable for serving the local community of dispersed villages in 101 ways" - Mr Hamilton

HUNTINGTON: "We are pensioners and need this weekly cash to meet our day-to-day needs, also the convenience of a local post office" - Mr and Mrs Wraith

ACOMB: "I need it to get my pension each week. I am 84 and no way do I want it paid into a bank" - Mrs L Speight

BISHOPTHORPE: "It is required by everyone in the village" - Mr G Massie

COPMANTHORPE: "I am 78 without transport and rely on my pension to shop in the village. Ready cash is important to me" - Joyce Smith

Bishopthorpe: "Many elderly and infirm village residents are unable to use bus services to go to town for pensions and it also saves time for others needing packets to be weighed" - Mrs B Hope

STILLINGFLEET: "I get my pension, TV licence and pay my electric bill through the post office. I don't drive and it would mean going to York" - Mrs I Savage

YORK: "I am disabled and have to rely on someone to take me and the post office is not too far away" - Ellen Wright

OSBALDWICK: "I am 78, disabled and unable to go into York. I depend 100 per cent on the post office to collect my pension and attendance allowance" - Mrs P Fowler

YORK: "I do not like cash machines. This government will destroy every good thing if we do not protest" - N J Peacock

MURTON: "Owing to restricted mobility and inadequate public transport we are unable to use cash machines" - Mrs Whitley

ACOMB: "It is important for everybody for pensions, benefits, and also a very handy personal general store. Small, but adequate" - Mrs J Grimbley

HAMBLETON: "It serves pensioners especially to give them cash. Many are disabled and can't get to Selby" - Mr R Stubbs,

YORK: "Like all local post offices it is an essential service for the community" - JM Dann

OSBALDWICK: "It is within a five- minute walk as opposed to a bus ride there and back to town to visit a bank. No way" - Mrs JM Leggatt

OSBALDWICK: "I need to collect my pension each weekend and also to post mail and parcels. And the post office in the village is so convenient" - Miss A Johnston

ACOMB: "I am over 80 and do my banking there, also many other things. They help with all the forms" - M Lister

YORK: "It is very convenient for most people and not everyone is able to walk or travel" - Mrs M Gray

YORK: "Very badly needed for the many people in the area" - Mr Gilbertson

YORK: "It is within easy reach and we pay other bills there" - Mr and Mrs Waite

See Reader Letters and Save Our Post Offices

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.