A QUARTER of East Lancashire's post offices are set to be axed.

Bosses are tomorrow due to announce the proposed closures in a bid to reduce losses of £4million a week.

Last year the Government started a review which could see the closure of 2,500 branches across the country.

At that time the Government said the cuts were needed because the business was making millions of pounds in losses each week.

The Lancashire Telegraph understands 23 out of East Lancashire's 96 post offices are set to closure following a six-week consultations which starts tomorrow.

The following post offices are believed to be earmarked for closure:

  • Preston New Road Post Office, 47 Preston New Road, Blackburn
  • Belthorn Post Office, 8 Holden Street, Belthorn
  • Mellor Brook Post Office, Branch Road, Mellor Brook
  • Sunnyhurst Post Office, 99 Hindle Street, Darwen
  • Cheapside Post Office, 702 Padiham Road, Burnley
  • Hapton Post Office, 31 Church Street, Hapton
  • Parliament Street Post Office, 70 Parliament Street, Burnley
  • Picadilly Road Post Office, 32 Picadilly Road, Burnley
  • Walk Mill Post Office, 19-21 Park Road, Cliviger
  • Higham Post Office, 2 Cross Street, Higham, Burnley
  • Church Post Office, 9A Market Street, Accrington
  • Huncoat Post Office, 10-12 Station Road, Huncoat
  • St Huberts Post Office, 108 Queen Street, Great Harwood
  • Barker House Road Post Office, 75 Barker House Road, Nelson
  • Carr Hall Post Office, 22 Bedford Street, Barrowford
  • Foulridge Post Office, Glenwynn Causeway, Foulridge
  • Gisburn Road Post Office, 61 Gisburn Road, Barnoldswick
  • Hill Place Post Office, 12 Hill Place, Nelson
  • Newton-In-Bowland Post Office, Salisbury Bungalow, Newton-In-Bowland
  • Samlesbury Post Office, 4 St James Terrace, Samlesbury
  • Billington Post Office, 1 Bonny Grass Terrace, Billington
  • Lee Mill Post Office, 95 Newchurch Road, Bacup
  • Longshoot Post Office, 19 Birch Avenue, Haslingden

    The full schedule of closures includes 58 branches across the whole of Lancashire.

Bosses said that, while post offices played an important social and economic role in the communities they serve, four million fewer people were using them each week compared to two years ago.

According to the Post Office Ltd, after the closures, 90 per cent of the population will remain within one mile of the nearest branch and 99 per cent will be within three miles.

It also claims 99 per cent of the population within deprived urban areas will be within one mile of the nearest branch.

The Post Office is hoping to compensate for the loss of branches in rural areas by establishing 500 "outreach services", including a mobile centre which would visit rural communities and small branches within existing shops.

A Post Office spokesman said they would issue a full statement at 10am tomorrow.