A ROW has erupted over the planned closure of a post office in a Ribble Valley village, with the area's MP accusing bosses of incompetence.

And the race is on to find a replacement post office in West Bradford when sub-postmasters Marilyn and Bill Wood retire in August.

They have run a newsagents and post office from their home at Croft Cottage for 17 years, but have been forced to retire through ill-health.

Mrs Wood said: "It's a real shame that it's closing, but we have done our bit and really can't carry on."

Coun Gwen Pye, who represents West Bradford on the Ribble Valley Council, said she was dismayed that the post office was to close.

Coun Pye said: "The Post Office claims it has done its best to find a replacement, but it isn't good enough. There isn't another shop in the village. It's a busy little outlet and shops such as this are vital. It will be sad if a replacement can't be found."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has accused Post Office bosses of allowing the rural network to crumble away.

He said: "Post offices are absolutely vital to rural communities and the Government must do all it can to recruit, train and encourage people to become sub-postmasters.

"I am calling on the Government and Consignia to form an army of people trained and ready to take over the running of post offices. These services are the key to maintaining the rural way of life."

The MP has written to Consignia chairman Alan Leighton.

He said: "There is a decline in the number of village shops, pubs and garages, and there must be a fightback for the rural way of life. The importance of these rural post offices are undisputed and to leave them to crumble away is shirking his responsibilities.

"Why should rural areas have to pay the price for a Government that allows Post Office management to be so incompetent? The Government must get a grip and guarantee good levels of service and delivery from the Post Office."

Official figures reveal that only 28 per cent of Ribble Valley villages have a post office.

A Post Office spokesman said every effort had been made to find a replacement sub-postmaster for West Bradford and the company was committed to maintaining rural post offices.

The company's rural transfer advisor, Ian Liley, said: "The vacancy has been advertised and every effort will be made to find a replacement as soon as possible. We are committed to maintaining rural post offices and resolving this situation will be a top priority."

If a replacement isn't found by August, customers will have to use Waddington Post Office, two miles away, or Clitheroe Post Office, about four miles away.