PENDLE MP Andrew Stephenson has welcomed the Government’s decision to invest a further £640million in the Post Office modernisation programme.

He said: “Between 1997 and 2010 Pendle lost 17 post offices and 5,000 were lost across the country. It is a testimony to the decisive action taken by the current Government that the Post Office network is being invested in and the provision of services expanded.

“I, like many people in Pendle, value the local Post Offices very highly.They provide vital services to local communities and I will continue to do all I can to make sure they have all the financial and organisational support they need to deliver these services effectively.”