FIVE post offices in Bury are to shut next month as part of a controversial national programme of closures.

The shutdowns, which were originally proposed in February, were confirmed yesterday by Post Office bosses.

They have defended the move, stressing that there are too many post offices competing for too little business.

Bury's Bolton Road post office will close on May 19 while Woolfold post office is scheduled to shut a day later.

Hollins post office will cease on May 22 and Nuttall Lane post office in Ramsbottom will close on May 24. Jericho post office will be the last to shut on May 25.

The decision to go-ahead with the closures follow a public consultation exercise during which customers, MPs and local organisations were asked for their views.

Eddie Herbert, Post Office's head of area, said: "We received a number of representations and the main concerns were about the effect of the closures on the more elderly and the convenience of nearby alternative branches.

"While I appreciate that it will be inconvenient for some customers to use an alternative post office, I have taken into account a range of factors including the local terrain, facilities and the distance of alternative branches.

"A senior manager has also visited the area and 'walked the ground' to assess all aspects of viability."

He continued: "However, having carefully considered all the points raised, I still believe that the permanent closure of these five offices is the correct course of action. I am confident that the other branches in the area are suitably located and can cope with the extra business this closure will cause.

"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."

Mr Herbert added: "Post offices in this constituency have been affected by a declining number of customers, increasing running costs and the prospect of even less business now the Department of Work and Pensions is transferring benefit payments from passbooks to bank accounts."

Final decisions on proposals to close eight post offices in Bury South will be announced at a later date.