STAFF at a tax office earmarked for closure are petitioning the Prime Minister to keep the site open.

Accrington's Revenue and Customs office is set to close next year as part of a cost-cutting exercise by the Government.

The 120 staff at Castle House, in Eastgate, will be transferred to the Liverpool, Preston and Manchester branches, but many say the extra mileage will prove too much of an expense and will force them out of their jobs.

Staff have already staged a walk-out in protest at the closure and they have now set up a petition on the Downing Street website, calling for Gordon Brown to save the office.

The petition states: "The closure of HMRC Castle House, Accrington, will be of detriment to Accrington and East Lancashire as a whole affecting the town and local community not just now but for many years to come.

"The decision to close this building is senseless and typical of a Government hell bent on the destruction of local communities. Please oppose the closure of Castle House."

A Public Communication Services union spokesperson said: "Other offices have been saved because of the impact of closures on the local community. We believe that the jobs and the local services should be kept locally.

"Offices like Bolton are not closing because it has been said it is too far for the workers to travel to Manchester. Well Accrington is even further away than Bolton.

"St Helen's staff will stay where they are because it is too far for them to travel to Liverpool. It is further for us.

"We feel we are being overlooked and that there is a massive discrepancy in the way we are being treated, which is why the petition has been set up."

People can sign the on-line petition by visiting the website below and filling out the form.

The phased closure of the branch will begin next year, but the office's inquiry desk will remain in the town at a yet to be decided location.

The Blackburn office will continue to operate.