A WATERFOOT postmaster who has been serving the people of Rossendale for 17 years today announced that the facility was the latest in line to close.

The closures are part of a national programme to restructure and modernise Post Office Ltd's national network of more than 9,000 urban offices because of a down-turn in business.

David Cairne, who took over the reins from his mother in 1986 from the Edgeside Holme Post Office in Burnley Road East, said the decision had to be taken because of a decline in custom.

Following discussions with Post Office Ltd about the future, David decided that the branch should close in May.

He said: "It wasn't an easy decision to take but because the benefits system has changed it has affected the business. There are too many post offices competing for a small amount of business.

"After living here since I was five it is not going to be easy to say goodbye and it's going to be very sad when we close, but we will have to move on and I will have to look for another job.

The closure follows the announcement last week that Shuttleworth Post Office in Whalley Road, Ramsbottom, will close in April.

Eddie Herbert, Head of Area, today said: "Proposals to close post offices are not made without considerable research and discussion so we are anxious that customers and all relevant organisations understand why we consider it necessary to reduce the size of our network. The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business.

"In the case of Edgeside Holme, a declining number of customers, increased running costs, and the prospect of even less business once the Department of Works and Pensions transfers benefit payments from passbooks to bank accounts, has prompted the subpostmaster to want to leave our business.

"If this office were to close it would improve long-term prospects of the other offices in the area, two of which are within 1.5 miles."

The nearest post office is Waterfoot, Burnley Road East and Rawtenstall Post Office in the Valley Centre.

Mr Herbert added: "We are confident they could cope with extra business and therefore we are proposing to close Edgeside Holme permanently. Before we make a final decision we are keen to hear of any concerns customers might have."

Anybody with any views on the matter should write to him at the National Consulta tion Team, PO Box 641, St Albans, AL1 5XN.