A GROUP of elderly residents fear they could be forgotten by electricity giants Norweb in their battle to pay their bills at their local Post Office.

The pensioners, of Hunters Lodge sheltered accommodation, have been fighting for the past four months to be able to use Cherry Tree Post Office - ever since Norweb closed its electricity showrooms.

But despite sending a signed petition and several letters to Norweb, the strong-willed senior citizens have heard nothing about being able to use the Post Office which is just yards from their homes.

Norweb, which has been taken over by Comet, announced that 13 Blackburn Post Offices could be used to pay bills. Since then two more have been added - but it does not make it any easier for the people of Cherry Tree and Pleasington.

Kath King, resident manager at Hunters Lodge, said: "It seems that we are being ignored again despite all our efforts. I know Norweb are looking to use more Post Offices but so far nothing has happened here and now we have to go the Livesey Branch Road or Mill Hill to pay our bills."

And Councillor John Williams said: "There are more than 5,000 residents in this area who have been overlooked and a lot of them are pensioners. I fully support their fight and will be doing all I can to help them."

John Lawton, Norweb's services support manager said his ultimate aim was to have every Post Office installed with an automated billing facilities, and is well aware of the pensioners' plight.

He said: "We are currently in talks with the Post Office about the latest round of installations and are aware of what is going on at Cherry Tree. But at the moment we cannot guarantee what Post Offices have been earmarked."

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