LIBERAL Democrat councillors have delivered a campaign to protect local post offices.

The group do not want residents in Prestwich to receive a second class service from Consignia if the company goes ahead with closures of sub-post offices.

Coun Tim Pickstone, who represents Holyrood ward, said that Consignia was losing £1.5 million a day and according to recent reports the company had threatened to close sub-post offices in urban areas to help to balance the books.

He said: "Traditionally it has been those in rural areas that have been targeted but now the post offices in urban areas are being threatened. We are campaigning to make sure the closures do not affect Prestwich."

Coun Pickstone said a petition against closures of any of the five sub-post offices in Prestwich has been launched and will be sent to Consignia.

Over the next 10 days, from this weekend, every household in Prestwich will receive at least one copy of the petition.

The petitions can either be sent to the Liberal Democrats or handed in to the Lib Dem "teller" on election day next month.

Coun Pickstone added: "It's a disgrace. What was once a proud national service has been turned by the Government into a national embarrassment. We are determined that no post offices in Prestwich will close. They provide an essential local service for many people -- especially many elderly people who aren't able to travel to a larger office."

Lib Dem candidate for Sedgley, Janet Turner, called on local residents to join the campaign to save Prestwich's post offices and added: "Under the Conservatives the Post Office was starved of investment but under Labour it is losing money daily."