FORMER Burnley mayor who campaigned to keep open an East Lancashire post office said today she was disappointed it was to close - but vowed to continue fighting against the decision.

Partially-sighted Irene Cooney, 86, organised a rota of volunteers to stand outside the town's Queen Victoria Road branch to lobby pensioners to sign a petition opposing the proposed closure.

But the Post Office announced yesterday that it would be one of those to shut.

Briercliffe Road, Queen Victoria Road and Queensgate will close permanently as part of a national programme.

Two others, Brunshaw and Oxford Road could also close, but are still under consideration.

Mrs Cooney, of Thursby Road, said: "I am terribly disappointed. I really am low. They didn't seem to listen to anything that anybody said.

"I will certainly challenge the decision and if there is any appeals process that will be the next step."

Eddie Herbert, Post Office head of area, said: "Proposals to close post offices are not made without considerable research and discussion - our aim is to safeguard access to a post office for all communities. The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business.

"While I appreciate that it will be inconvenient for some customers to use an alternative post office, I have taken into account the local terrain, parking and public transport.

"Having carefully considered all the points raised, I still believe that the permanent closure of these three offices is the correct course of action."

News of the closures, announced as the Evening Telegraph went to press yesterday, came just weeks after Post Office Ltd confirmed that another seven branches - two in Burnley and five in Pendle - would shut following a period of public consultation.

In Burnley, Accrington Road Post Office is to close on September 9 and Stoneyholme Post Office on September 13.

Burnley MP Peter Pike said he was hopeful of saving two of the five post offices, Queen Victoria Road and Accrington Road, following a meeting with regional Royal Mail top brass, but the bid appears to have been unsuccessful.

In Pendle, the Post Office is closing five of 15 urban offices - New Bridge Post Office in King Edward Terrace and Barrowford and St John's Post Office in Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, will shut on September 8; Scotland Road Post Office, Nelson, and Burnley Road Post Office will close on September 11 and Leeds Road Post Office, Nelson will close on September 15.