THE Lancashire Telegraph's Save Our Post Offices campaign is playing a vital role in the fight against closures, according to one leading political figure.

Nigel Evans, the Conservative MP for Ribble Valley, where four post offices face the axe, has backed our campaign and slammed the Government's plan to close a quarter of East Lancashire's post offices.

Twenty four post offices in the region are under threat as the Government looks to reduce losses on the network.

In Ribble Valley and surrounding areas branches in Billington, Mellor Brook, Newton-in-Bowland and Samlesbury could be permanently lost with Chipping, Bashall Eaves and Bolton-by-Bowland being transferred to other buildings within their villages.

Mr Evans believes the Government's action are short sighted and communities would come to rue the loss of a vital asset to community life.

He said: "The Lancashire Telegraph's campaign acts as a vehicle for people to explain what impact these closures will have and what the post office means to them.

"My constituents in the Ribble Valley will be particularly affected with the closure of several branches with those in Chipping, Bashall Eaves and Bolton-by-Bowland being replaced by an outreach service - which is a greatly reduced service, in one case as low as only two hours per week.

"People who will be affected by these proposed changes in Ribble Valley will be understandably upset at the prospect of losing a vital local service.

"Whatever your views, it is important that they are heard.

"I will forward all the responses I receive from concerned residents to the Post Office and to Postwatch as part of their consultation exercise, and I will take your views into account in my own submission to the Post Office."

Mr Evans urged anyone who feels strongly about the proposed closures to write to him at Nigel Evans MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.

He stressed that letters should reach him by Monday, February 25.