WHITEFIELD Post Office is to close, leaving elderly customers facing a bus journey or long walk to collect their pensions.

The post office in Bury New Road, next to Whitefield Police Station, will sell its last stamp on November 27.

The building is owned by the subpostmaster, who is resigning due to ill-health, forcing Post Office Ltd to look for alternative premises before the service can be re-opened to the public.

Customers are being advised to use either Besses o'th Barn Post Office, in Bury Old Road, Whitefield, to where pension and allowance books will transferred, or the post office in Kingswood Road, Prestwich.

But the decision has been branded "terrible news" by local councillors, who have appealed for a replacement as soon as possible.

Councillor for Pilkington Park, Coun Pam Walker, expressed her concern over the closure and said it could pose a problem for elderly residents.

She said: "I am very sorry if it is shutting as the lady who runs it has been there for many years. It is well used and is going to be a bit of a problem for elderly people. Many people on the Elms Estate use the Post Office in Rufford Drive but it is heck of a long way up to Besses."

Coun Walker added: "It is a shame and I hope they re-locate it quickly."

Liberal Democrat spokesman on regeneration and housing, Coun Tim Pickstone, said they had been highlighting the Post Office's plans to close 3,000 urban post offices for the past 12 months.

He said: "This is terrible news for people in Whitefield and a major inconvenience for people who rely on the local post offices for essential services. We just have to hope it's not the thin end of the wedge for local post offices."

A spokesman for Post Office Ltd said the company was committed to maintaining counter services in the area and they would do everything possible to limit the length of any closure at Whitefield.

Retail line manager, Caroline Pritchard added: "We appreciate that the closure of this office will inconvenience our customers, especially the elderly and those with disabilities, but I can assure them that finding a replacement subpostmaster will be a priority for me. Applicants must also be able to provide suitable premises."

Anyone interested in the vacancy should contact the agency recruitment section on 0845 6016260.

Bury Euro MP Chris Davies has accused the Department of Work and Pensions of running a dirty tricks campaign which threatens the survival of many Bury post offices.

The Government department has threatened legal action to any subpostmasters who display unofficial posters informing customers that they can still claim their benefits in cash at post offices instead of having money paid through the bank. The threat comes after the Government's decision to pay benefits into bank accounts from next April, which, he claims, puts 13 Bury post offices at risk of closure and 3,000 branches nationally.