EFFORTS by company bosses to find someone to take over a Burnley post office have failed.

Burnley MP Peter Pike expressed his concerns over the future of Lowerhouse Post Office, Lowerhouse Lane, last December when sub-postmistress Kathleen Smith decided to retire.

Now Mrs Smith, 63, who will have run the post office for 33 years on the day she retires, will sell her last stamp at 5.30pm on Monday February 12.

Today she said it would be a very sad occasion if nobody was found to open it up again. She added: "The customers are sad that I'm going but I'm not leaving the village. I suppose it is sad but it's like a lot of village post offices, they are slowly closing down.

"I hope somebody comes along and re-opens it. It would be a shame if they didn't."

Customers will have to use either Cheapside Post Office, in Padiham Road, or Rose Grove Post Office, further along Lowerhouse Lane.

Retail network manager at Post Office Counters, Anne Rush, said: "We want to maintain counter services in this area.

"We would consider any proposal from anyone interested in running a post office there."