PENDLE councillors are backing a campaign to allow pensioners to continue collecting money from Post Offices.

A motion tabled by Councillor David Whipp, calling on the Government to shelve plans to scrap pension books, was passed at a full council meeting.

Councillors also expressed fears that the move would cause more Post Offices to close.

Coun Whipp said government figures had shown post offices in the borough would lose 3,580 customers when pensioners begin collecting their entitlement at banks and building societies.

The Government is aiming for all benefits, including pensions, to be paid straight into a bank, building society or post office account by April 2005.

"The government's plans are driven by cost-cutting and not what is best for pensioners. Many pensioners, particularly older ones, are comfortable with what they know.

"Post Offices are already struggling to be economically viable and when you lose Post Offices you lose all the other community services they provide as well."

Coun Alan Davies, agreed: "Scrapping pension books is the daftest idea of all. The Post Office is probably the best community service in this country."