An incredible 17,000 people across Oxfordshire have spoken with one voice and told the Government they do not want their post offices to close.

The strength of opposition to controversial plans to shut branches across the county was evident as the Oxford Mail delivered a 6,000-signature petition and 150 letters of opposition to 10 Downing Street and Post Office headquarters.

A separate petition containing more than 11,000 names of Oxfordshire post office users has already been received by those in charge of the consultation process, which closes today.

In all, 22 post offices are earmarked for closure and five more will be replaced with outreach services in a bid to stem network losses of £4m a week.

As the Oxford Mail set off to London to deliver your views on Thursday, Oxford East MP Andrew Smith saw us off at Oxford railway station.

He said: "These petitions are a brilliant show of support by Oxford Mail readers.

"This highlights the immense strength of concern and how much people want to keep their post offices in Oxford and across the county.

"Let's keep up the campaign - and let's win this one."

At his Parliamentary office, Witney MP and Conservative Party leader David Cameron said: "This has been a great campaign. When I visited six post offices in my constituency there were often crowds of 100 or 200 people outside.

"The Government has underestimated the need for post offices, particularly in rural parts of Oxfordshire."

At the steps of 10 Downing Street, a policeman opened the famous black door as staff accepted the petition.

"I've seen lots of these lately," he said, noticing the Save our Post Offices logo.

Dr Evan Harris, the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, who joined us in Downing Street, said: "What we have handed in shows how strongly the people of Oxfordshire feel about the need to protect their post offices.

"These are not only things that provide an important service, they're crucial parts of the local communities - particularly in a rural county like Oxfordshire - where, if the post office goes, people fear for the future of other services."

At Post Office Ltd's headquarters, in Old Street, East London, your signatures and Oxford Mail coupons were delivered to the people who will ultimately decide the fate of branches.

Spokesman Kjetil Fuglestad said: "We can understand and sympathise with the concerns of both individuals and local organisations over the future of the post office branches in Oxfordshire.

"We will consider very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation to all the affected branches in the area before making our final announcement."