AN East Lancashire MP has said plans to close a dozen post offices could rip communities apart.

Burnley MP Peter Pike issued the warning after the Royal Mail announced plans to shut 12 offices across Burnley and Pendle.

Mr Pike said if the proposals are passed it would cause problems, particularly for older people who rely on post offices for their pensions.

He said: "In some parts of Burnley the local post office is the hub of the local community and removing that will split those communities, who will have to travel to alternative branches. They are not necessarily on bus routes, or within walking distance.

"Some of the branches targeted for closure are in areas where there are large numbers of pensioners, who still collect their pensions from them.

"Some are close to a number of small businesses who clearly depend on their local post office for daily transactions."

The Royal Mail announced the plans yesterday saying it was to protect the viability of the other 26 branches in the area. The threatened post offices in Burnley are: Accrington Road, Briercliffe Road, Brunshaw, Oxford Road, Queen Victoria Road, Queensgate and Stoneyholme.

In Pendle, post offices in Burnley Road, Colne; Leeds Road, Scotland Road and St Johns, all in Nelson and New Bridge, Barrowford, are threatened.

Eddie Herbert, head of area North West, said a consultation period where residents could air their concerns would be held before a final decision was made.