IT should be no surprise that reaction to plans to close 15 more Post Offices across East Lancashire is hostile.

The news comes just a day after the Royal Mail unveiled profits of £220million - the first time the organisation has been in the black for four years and a vivid contrast to last year's losses of £197million.

The reason given for the latest closures of urban post offices is that they are just not doing enough business.

But that could be because of the way the organisation has operated over the past few years.

Name changes, uncertainty over the future and slowness to change and diversify have all helped to prompt many customers to look elsewhere for pension and benefit payments, buying stamps, licences and sending parcels.

Disruption to services because of disputes has also done nothing for the Royal Mail which too often appears to have the sort of management/labour relations that disappeared from other industries decades ago.

All that's a great pity because vulnerable groups like the elderly and poor will suffer most from the loss of neighbourhood facilities which are part of the community.

And there is an underlying affection for the Royal Mail as witnessed earlier this month when about 100 people turned out in Pleasington to wish their retiring postman well.