POSTMASTERS have praised a hi-tech move which could bring East Lancashire sub post offices right into the 21st century and secure their futures.

The National Federation of Sub Postmasters is looking at installing free internet kiosks across the country's sub post offices.

It is hoped the kiosks will help slow the closures of the post offices, blamed on the Government's scheme to see pensions and benefits paid into bank accounts instead of over the counter.

Many closures are as a result of the Post Office restructuring its network of more than 9,000 urban post offices to avoid too many branches competing for too little business.

The kiosks could attract customers into the post offices to shop online, pay bills and search for local information.

Sam Eaves, sub postmaster of Little Harwood sub post office, Whalley Old Road, Blackburn, said: "I think this is definitely something the younger generation might be interested in.

"However, some of the sub post offices are quite small and we are supporting ourselves with private sales. To take up room for something that is probably not going to generate income might not be a good idea for some."

The plan is a follow-up to a six-month trial which took place in 2002 in Leicestershire and Rutland. The National Federation of Sub Postmasters has argued that the scheme should be rolled out nationally.

Colin Baker, general secretary, said: "We are actively engaged in trying to generate new income streams for sub postmasters and re-energise the very successful trial of Your Guide in Leicestershire and Rutland.

"We hope to provide further details shortly on this exciting project."

Mukhtar Quraishi, sub postmaster of Whalley Range sub post office, Blackburn, said the scheme could work, but not everywhere.

He said: "We would need room to fit the computer and a chair into the post office. Some are quite small, so the idea couldn't be done universally because some offices have no room.

"It would also depend on what type of people and customers are living around the post office. It isn't one of those things that will work automatically."

Free internet access is already provided across the county's libraries, and the councillor in charge says they are very popular.

County Councillor Marcus Johnstone, portfolio holder for communications and cultural services said: "They are very popular and if you go into libraries you will find most of the terminals in use most of the time.

There are still substantial numbers of people who don't have computers at home."