PETITIONS to save post offices from closure have been launched around the county.

Twenty-two sub post offices are on a hitlist of branches Post Office Ltd could close to save money. Five others face being replaced with outreach' services - such as mobile post offices.

At the Grandpont Post Office, in Abingdon Road, Oxford, the petition was proving popular, said postmaster Dharmaraj Prasad.

He said: "Every single person wants the post office to remain.

"The Post Office wants every single person to write to them but we have many elderly people who cannot write or read very well, so they have signed the petition.

"We serve about 2,000 families around here and we provide a vital service to them. The pensioners come in - 15 or 20 a day - and need me to help with getting the right letter size or stamps.

"People around here are very angry about this. Hopefully the Post Office will listen to them."

More than 100 customers at Iffley Post Office, in Church Way, have already signed petition sheets and organised direct action.

The branch is housed inside a community-run village shop staffed by about 30 volunteers.

On Saturday morning, campaigners will take to the streets of Rose Hill to drum up further support for their campaign.

David Penwarden, from Iffley, said: "It is the only post office in the ward and many people from Rose Hill use it.

"It must be one of the cheapest branches in the country to run at under £6,000 a year. The Post Office does not pay rent, lighting, heating or storage bills.

"I spoke to people at the Rose Hill residents' meeting on Tuesday and they were already signing names and photocopying petition sheets by the time I had finished.

"About 10 people have said they will come and help us knock on doors, including local councillor Ed Turner."

On February 20, Friends of Iffley Village will stage a public meeting at 7.30pm in Iffley Church hall to discuss the next move.

The Oxford Diocese has also backed calls to keep branches open around the county.

The archdeacons of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire are encouraging churchgoers to take part in the consultations.

The Church of England argues elderly, disabled and low-income residents in these areas rely heavily on their local branches.

The public consultation period, in which people can voice their opinions to Post Office Ltd, ends on March 17.