A GOVERNMENT minister has promised to ask the Post Office to extend the consultation period over post office closures in Colne after the initial announcement was made just before the town's holiday weeks.

Lord Matthew Evans of Temple Guiting is to write to the company's chief executive David Mills to call for an extra two weeks before any decision is taken.

The issue of the closures of the Alkincoates, Burrell Avenue, Cottontree and Lidgett post offices was raised by Pendle Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Tony Greaves.

He warned that the huge number of post office closures would be blamed on the government but specifically said the four-week consultation period on closures was too short.

He particularly raised the fact that the announcement of the Colne closures was at the beginning of holiday weeks when schools broke up and people went on holiday.

Lord Greaves told Lord Evans: "It is therefore a most inappropriate time to hold the consultation.

"Will you make representations to the post office in this instance to extend the consultation period to the end of August?"

Lord Evans said he was aware of the problem and would write to Mr Mills and ask him to extend the consultation.

Lord Greaves said: "I am very pleased the minister is aware of the holiday weeks problem and is to write to the Post Office.

"I shall be very angry if it ignored representation from a government minister and does not do so."

In the House of Commons, Pendle MP Gordon Prentice raised the four closures and another planned closure - of Salterforth post office.

He demanded a ministerial statement on the "incredible shrinking post office network."

Leader of the Commons Peter Hain promised to pass on his request to Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt.