Representatives of independently run post office branches will warn the Government today that the network will not survive any more closures.

The National Federation of SubPostmasters (NFSP) will press ministers to step up efforts to introduce new services for post offices to increase business. The Government has already given its backing to a postbank, effectively an extension of the financial services that post offices already offer.

The postal network, which has more than 11,500 independently run branches, lost 2,500 branches with forced closures last year.

Post office branches have struggled against diminishing business. They lost a large part of their work when the Government switched to direct payments into claimants' bank accounts.

The NFSP wants a complete commitment to a postbank, more central government services to be made available at post offices, local government services to be offered through post branches and action to help post offices to become strong retail outlets.

George Thompson, general secretary of the NFSP, said: “After many years of contraction and decline in the UK's post office network, the country faces a stark choice. We can continue down the path of further closures,

loss of work and general indifference, or we can change things by being bold and decisive to make the most of this vital national asset which binds local communities and economies together across the UK.”

The NFSP will launch a report into the state of the postal network and their calls for action with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Post Offices. Kate Hoey, Labour MP for Vauxhall and chair of the group, said: “With common sense, the answer to questions on how to secure post offices' viability is clear; instead of diverting lucrative contracts such as TV licensing away from the Post Office, we are calling for more central and local government contracts to be given to the network.”

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