MARKET traders in Preston are up in arms over plans to relocate the city's main post office fearing shoppers will take their custom elsewhere.

It comes after Post Office Limited revealed plans to close its purpose built premises in Birley Street, near the Harris Museum, and re-locate to a new site in Theatre Street, off Fishergate, near the railway station.

Now Liberal Democrat councillors have organised a petition to keep the post office at its present site.

If the re-location plan goes ahead the new post office will open at its modern offices on September 30.

Luggage and bag seller Dave Maudsley, who has a stall on Preston's outdoor market, described the proposed move as: "a blow to the market".

Mr Maudsley, chairman of the Preston branch of the National Market Traders Federation, added: "Traders at this end of town are disappointed that the post office is moving because it brings a lot of people to the market area."

The proposed move has been criticised by Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor Bill Chadwick who is petitioning for the post office to stay at its current listed building location as part of a national campaign.

Coun Chadwick said: "Since the early 1990s around 2,000 branches have closed down nationwide. If Birley Street closes it will force a lot of people to reassess their shopping and it will affect market traders badly.

"As a newly appointed city, moving the post office down a back street seems like the post office is shooting itself in the foot. Visitors will not know it is there.

"The redevelopment of the Tithebarn area has not been finalised and it's a strange time to make plans to move as the area will, no doubt, generate a lot of business."

It is understood that the new post office will be run by Keybase Ltd partnership and Post Office Ltd -- although union bosses believe it won't be long before the latter is taken over.

Andy Tatchell, branch secretary, for the North Lancs and Cumbria Communication Workers Union, said: "It looks like Keybase is going to take the post office over.

"The Preston move has come as a shock to us as Preston is the jewel in the crown of post offices."

A spokesman for Post Office Ltd said staff working at the Birley Street site would be offered alternative employment at the Theatre Street office or elsewhere.