Communities across the county who face losing their post offices have been urged to have their say before it's too late.

More than 6,000 people have already signed Oxford Mail petitions against the proposed closure of 22 Oxfordshire branches - but campaigners say the fight must continue.

Postmasters, customers, councils and consumer watchdog Postwatch have all called for one last push on the day the six-week consultation period entered its second half.

In 20 days, Post Office Ltd will stop receiving correspondence on the matter and begin the process of confirming which branches will be axed.

Postwatch's regional manager Shirley Goodchild said: "We are really encouraging people to write letters and express their views before the end of the consultation period.

"We have had a good response so far and we have had a steady stream of letters, but people must take part if they have something to say."

Two Oxfordshire branches have seen their petitions break the 1,000-signature mark and hundreds of people have sent letters to MPs, written directly to Post Office Ltd and organised public meetings.

Thirteen of the 22 at-risk branches have set up petitions against the proposed cuts.

Other outlets, such as Fyfield and Crowmarsh, said their efforts would focus on individual letters.

In the village of Stanton St John, east of Oxford, about 300 customers at the village store and post office have put their names to a petition.

Shop owner Mollie Ingrey said: "Everyone has been absolutely flabbergasted because it is so difficult to get to Barton and Wheatley because there is no parking or no buses.

"We serve such a huge area, including five or six villages."

Karen Smith, the postmistress at Ardington Post Office, near Wantage, said: "There are about 400 names on our petition at the moment.

"There was a public meeting on Wednesday evening which had about 110 people."

At a meeting last Tuesday, Carterton Town Council agreed on a formal two-point objection to the closure of the Stanmore Crescent branch.

It emphasised the heavy usage by families of servicemen at RAF Brize Norton and the long queues for service at the Co-op outlet in a town with a population of more than 15,000.

Post Office Ltd spokesman Jaquie Stenson said: "We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with post office services are able to express their views.

"We will be pleased to receive feedback from customers and their representatives and this, along with all other information or comments, will be reviewed before any final decisions are taken."

Meanwhile, Oxfordshire County Council has backed the campaign to keep branches open.

Council leader Keith Mitchell said: "We would urge as many people as possible to write to the Post Office and the Government to make clear the depth of feeling there is on this issue.

"We are encouraging our own staff at the council to respond to the Post Office consultation. The more we can harness the widespread opposition to these proposals, the more likely it is that our voice will be heard."

For more information visit oxfordshire.gov.uk/postoffices South Oxfordshire MP Boris Johnson has backed an action plan being drawn up in Crowmarsh to oppose the closure of that village's post office. Local people are urged to deluge Post Office managers with letters of protest explaining why the village post office should stay.

Mr Johnson said: "I have sent a very strong protest to the Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier explaining how important local post offices are."