"DON'T take away our independence" - that's the impassioned plea from pensioners fighting to keep their post office.

In Hapton, villagers have already started collecting signatures against the Government plans, and yesterday more than 30 people turned out for a protest march outside the Church Street branch.

Hapton councillor Sharon Wilkinson said: "Most of the people that came were pensioners, and they are the residents who will be hit hardest by the post office closing.

"I don't think anyone realises how essential the post office is to the village - it's the heart of Hapton.

"If it closes, many of these pensioners feel they will lose their independence, because they will no longer be able to pick up their prescriptions themselves, they'll have to send a relative or friend to pick it up from Padiham or Burnley because it's too far for them."

Coun Wilkinson hopes to arrange for a group of pensioners to travel by bus to present their petitions to a major post office branch.

Burnley MP Kitty Ussher and Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle have both given their support to the villagers, and Mrs Ussher has promised to present petitions to Post Office bosses.