A COUNCILLOR who fears up to two-thirds of the area's post offices could shut is rallying postmasters in Hyndburn to fight the closures.

Labour councillor Tim O'Kane says that a campaign by Post Offices Ltd to close a third of its 9,000 urban offices nationally could hit Hyndburn hard.

By the end of the campaign, PO say their aim is that 95 per cent of people will live within one mile of a post office.

But Coun O'Kane, from Clayton-le-Moors, says that around 14 of the 22 Hyndburn post offices could close and still achieve that criteria.

He is writing to all the borough's postmasters to get their views on what is best for Hyndburn.

When the announcement was made last year, it was feared the one-third national closure programme would be reflected in the borough, leading to six closures.

But PO chiefs say the national figures won't necessarily correspond locally.

The axe has already started to fall in other parts of East Lancashire, with several already closed in Blackburn, Darwen and Burnley.

"We could lose more than the six post offices in Hyndburn," said Coun O'Kane.

"The Post Office have started this closure process and they are aiming for 3,000 closures. But if they are going to rationalise they have got to start closing the urban ones and we happen to be a prime area.

"It's possible instead of only losing a third of our post offices they could close two-thirds, given the criteria.

"We are going to consult with all the postmasters to find out what's best for Hyndburn. We don't want people left high and dry.

"The post office is important in communities. They are social gathering points as well as providing other services. We are seeking the views of the 22 postmasters."

A spokesman for PO said no date had been set for the announcement of closures in Hyndburn.

"It's premature to speculate on how many offices could close. There will be full public consultation. From the moment we write to local organisations there is a six-week period during which people can make comments.

"At the end of that, all the comments are considered before a final decision is made.

"Unfortunately there are too many post offices for all of them to survive."