SUB-POST masters from across the Fylde travelled to Downing Street on Wednesday to protest against government proposals which they fear could put them out of business.

They joined a national delegation to hand over a petition signed by thousands of post offices opposed to changes in the method of paying benefits.

The changes would mean benefits such as pensions, child benefit and income support would be paid directly into bank accounts and recipients would no longer have the choice of cashing benefit cheques at post offices.

These cash payments form the main source of income for sub-post offices and many in the Fylde fear they could be forced out of business if they are stopped. One Blackpool sub-post office master told The Citizen: "These proposals could spell the end for many smaller post offices in the Fylde if they are introduced.

"It would be particularly bad in a rural area like this as they form an important service in villages and it could really hurt those communities.

"You would think the banks make big enough profits as it is without taking business from us.

"We have had lots of support from our customers as many of them are very concerned about difficulties in getting their cash in future.

"We alone have had more than 2,500 people signing the petition and it is the same across the Fylde.

"Many of our users live a long way from a bank or a cash machine and could face severe hardships if they cannot get their payments on time."

Delegation members from the Fylde, led by the area secretary of the National Federation of Sub-post Office masters, later met Blackpool MP Gordon Marsden to discuss their concerns.