LANCASHIRE County Council has entered the fight to save urban post offices and demanded that people are given more time to oppose closures.

The Post Office announced last year that it was reviewing its urban network to ensure it was viable for the future.

The decision to pay benefits straight into bank accounts has led to a dramatic drop in counter business at post offices. Up to 3,000 could close across the country.

That is one third of the national urban network. Around 35 would close in East Lancashire if a third of urban post offices were to close.

Under proposals approved by the post industry's watchdog, the Post Office will give four weeks' notice to communities which are set to lose a post office.

The residents can appeal for it to be saved. In Blackburn this year, two have closed a month after consultation started, despite petitions to save them.

Now Lancashire County Council has called for the consultation time to be extended to give residents chance to mount a real fight.

Councillors say four weeks simply not long enough. Plans are now being drawn up to rally Lancashire MPs, Government ministers and local councillors to fight for a longer consultation period.

A letter will be sent this week to Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Postal Services, requesting that the consultation period be extended for all new closure plans so that organisations like Parish Councils will have a chance to make their views known.

County Coun Wendy Dwyer, who represents Accrington and is chairman of the overview and scrutiny committee, said: "We understand that the Post Office has to save money and to do that they must 'streamline', but they must not forget that many people value their local offices. Does such a short consultation period recognise the part these branches play in the community? One month is an incredibly short space of time for people to give a proper response to the Post Office's plans.

"Parish councils, who represent large parts of Lancashire, may only meet every six weeks so they could be cut out of the consultation completely.

"At this rate our communities could potentially lose hundreds of offices before they've even had chance to mount a fight. To respond properly to a consultation you need to gather evidence and work with people in your community - it is hard to do this in such a short time."

A spokesman for the Post Office said: "Communities are given four weeks notice and details of where alternative post offices are. Many postmaster simply can't keep going without merging."

He added that two consultations were currently under way in the Rossendale area.