THE Wantage register office is set to close permanently, leaving people in the town nowhere local to register births, marriages and deaths.

The office, based at The Civic Hall, is being forced to shut after hall owner the Vale of White Horse District Council refused to renew the lease.

It means that the nearest place for people wanting to register births, marriages or deaths is in Didcot.

The district council said it wanted to free up the space to help improve other hall facilities.

But residents fear the loss of the service could mean the closure of the hall, which the district council has already said it does not want to manage after 2010/2011.

District councillor John Morgan said: “This is a nail in the coffin for the Civic Hall.

“What will people do when they have to register a death? Will a bereaved woman want to jump on the bus to get to Didcot? I don’t think so.”

The office will close on November 7, but the district council says the hall can still be booked for weddings and any existing bookings will be honoured.

The county council, which runs the service, said usage of the Wantage office was low. The two staff will relocate to other offices.