EAST Lancashire MP Nigel Evans has called on the government to act to save the post office network.

The Ribble Valley Tory accepted that there were hundreds of closures under his own government, but with more than 200 branches shutting this year, the number giving up business was escalating.

He told Government Minister Phil Woolles: "MPs do not want to receive letters about branch closures in our offices, but sadly we do.

"I congratulate all postmen and women and postmasters and mistresses on their hard work and dedication throughout the year, but particularly at Christmas time.

"However we must value the post office network.

"Every MP values the post offices in their constituency and our constituents are aware of their importance.

"The post office is the only shop in many villages and, apart from offering post office services, they sell goods.

"There are a number of such post offices in my constituency but they are under threat.

"If people lose their post office it is unlikely that they will ever get it back.

"There have been a few closures in my constituency including, last year, Grindleton Post Office, which was the only shop in the village.

"Sometimes when we receive letters about a closure, the post office asks whether we can suggest anyone who is prepared to come in and run the local post office.

"We must acknowledge that post offices sometimes are not economically viable.

"Even with all the goods that they sell in addition to stamps, postal orders and so on, and even if the postmaster runs a convenience store too, post offices, particularly given the salary that is paid, may not be economically viable."

Mr Evans said that trying to force people to have their benefits directly paid into bank accounts rather than being collected from post offices had damaged the viability of the network.

And he said that people who worked in post offices "worked long hours under enormous stress."

Mr Evans said: "If the government value our post office network, they must do something to save them.

"Post offices are the lifeblood of the community. People know the postmaster and mistress and the individuals who work in the shop.

"The government must be more imaginative about the ways in which they will protect post offices.

"There may be a rural subsidy of some other form of recognition to keep post offices open. Without such payments the system may not be viable."