STAFF and customers at post offices have reacted angrily to news that their branches may be axed.

One shocked postmaster only learned about the threat to his branch when he read a newspaper report on Saturday.

The services at Grandpont and Iffley, Oxford, were named in a shortlist of 22 post offices across Oxfordshire earmarked for closure.

The names of the threatened facilities were leaked by MPs on Friday evening ahead of a planned official announcement tomorrow.

Dharmaraj Prasad, who has been postmaster at Grandpont Post Office, in Abingdon Road, Oxford, for 22 years, was shocked at the news.

He said: "No one from the Post Office has said anything, all I have heard is what I have read.

"It is very disappointing. We have a large population in this area who do not want to go to the main post office in the city and queue, or they may not be able to walk very far.

"I have been here for over 20 years and we provide a great service to people. They want the post office to stay here for the community.

"In the past we have had voluntary closure requests but we have always said 'no'. This time it is compulsory and we have no choice. They will make the choice for us, which is very disappointing.

"There is a consultation period of six weeks, but that is not long enough. I hope we can fight back."

The post office in Church Way, Iffley, is part of a community store run by volunteers.

Lydia Penwarden, who helps out in the shop, said: "I am sure there will be a campaign to stop this happening.

"The shop is staffed by volunteers and the Post Office does not pay any rent for its area.

"It can get very busy and people with parcels can come here easily because we have parking."

Regular customer and Iffley resident Hettie Harré said: "It is always busy. Now that Rose Hill Post Office has closed and the one in Cowley Centre has got smaller, people come from all over to use it.

"Elderly and disabled people rely on it to get their pensions."

Herman Huyg, who works in the shop's post office concession, said: "I am sure there will be people fighting against this. We are not happy at all about it."

'We will fight to keep our office open Villagers have also reacted with dismay to news their local post offices could be facing the axe.

Denis Strange, from Newnham Green, uses the under-threat Crowmarsh Gifford branch. He said: "This is absolutely outrageous.

"We have an excellent post office and shop here and they complement each other. You cannot expect elderly people to have to go into Wallingford and queue for ages to be served at the post office there.

"There is to be a petition set up in this village to combat this closure - local people will certainly fight to keep it open."

John Bailey, who lives in The Street, said: "It's an absolute scandal. Post offices are vital parts of the community, just like the church and the village pub."

South Oxfordshire MP Boris Johnson has condemned rural post office closures as "senseless".

Mr Johnson said: "I really believe that we should stop this senseless destruction of institutions that cost so little and do so much for our communities."

The list of Oxfordshire post offices set to close is:

  • Ardington
  • Begbroke
  • Childrey
  • Combe
  • Crowmarsh
  • Dalton Barracks, Abingdon
  • Farmoor
  • Fyfield
  • Grandpont, Oxford
  • Grimsbury, Banbury
  • Church Way, Iffley, Oxford
  • Villiers Road, Bicester
  • Long Wittenham
  • Orchard Way, Banbury
  • Stanmore Cresent, Carterton
  • Stanton St John
  • Upton
  • West End, Witney
  • Wolvercote, Godstow Road, Oxford
  • Wootton
  • Wootton Road, Abingdon
  • Wytham.