CAMPAIGNERS against the threatened closure of the Royal Mail sorting office at Colne collected 300 signatures in just an hour on Saturday.

Labour councillors fighting the closure took their campaign out on to the streets. Coun Ann Doult said: "Within an hour we collected 300 signatures from shoppers.'' They plan to take the petition back into the town centre again on Saturday, when they will be joined by postal workers.

Coun Doult said: "We regard it as a vital service which must be kept in the town and people were more than willing to sign the petition calling for it to be retained.'' Councillors have asked to meet with Royal Mail bosses about their decision to shut the delivery office behind Colne Post Office and merge it with the Nelson operation in a new sorting office next to the existing one in Stanworth Road, Nelson, by next summer.

The decision shocked Colne councillors, who have called for urgent talks.

The Labour group is also worried about the effect the changes will have on delivery and collection rounds in West Craven. The Royal Mail said the new site would offer a better service to customers.

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