GORDON Prentice has told the government to stop the process of opening up the postal service to competition.

The Pendle Labour MP believes it is jeopardising the universal service and could close many small urban and rural sub-post offices.

He is worried about the impact of the changes on the sub-region. And he wants Trade and Industry Ministers to rein in the postal regulator Postcomm, the driving force behind moves to open most mail and parcel services to competition in three years.

Mr Prentice fears massive job losses and major branch closures in East Lancashire and across the UK as a result.

He said: "I am very concerned indeed about the at least 15,000 job losses announced so far in Consignia -- the controversial new name for the Post Office.

"This was an organisation that regularly turned in profits until two years ago and is now being regarded as some kind of basket case. It is not.

"Clearly, the Post Office management has to take a lorry load of responsibility for what is happening.

"But the government, as the sole shareholder for what is still a national institution, cannot simply wash its hands of the matter and say it is up to the independent regulator.

"Opening up the UK postal market to competition well in advance of other European Union countries will destabilise the Post Office.

"It can only function effectively if it is allowed to cross-subsidise its loss-making services with those which are profitable.

"Allowing the private sector to cherry pick will jeopardise the universal service obligation under which the Royal Mail guarantees to deliver a letter to any address in the UK for the same price.

"Can anybody imagine the private sector operators would do that? No way.''