Banbury MP Tony Baldry is supporting a House of Commons motion to keep village post offices open.

The move could prevent the payment of benefits and pensions being taken away from rural post offices.

Mr Baldry said: "Government ministers are insisting on pressing ahead with reforms to the distribution of pensions and benefits by taking them away from rural post offices and into banks.

"The loss of business could force many country post offices to close. Some 3,000 post offices are expected to close over the next few years."

He added: "The Government has recently put £450m on the table to help rural post offices."

The motion calls for ministers to review the effect that benefits and pension payment changes will have on rural post offices.

Mr Baldry said: "North Oxfordshire has a significant proportion of elderly people who collect their pensions and benefits from rural post offices."