Owners of a corner shop in East Oxford claim the demise of a post office has forced them to close their shop after quarter of a century.

Glanville Road Post Office, which was a working post office until two years ago, is to be converted into four flats.

The Grewal family, who own the shop in Glanville Road, said they were left with no option but to shut down because trade had died-off once the post office closed.

Mr Grewal said: "Nobody wants to close their shop. We have run it for 25 years but it was non-viable. We just weren't getting people come in once we were not a post office any more."

City councillors approved a planning application to convert the building into flats.

But people who use the shop have spoken of their sadness at losing it.

John Green, 50, of Barracks Lane, said: "It is another nail in the coffin of the local shops.

"Everyone round here accepts we have got very nice houses and there are a lot of people who desperately need homes.

"If I thought it would provide social housing or for those with low incomes, I wouldn't mind, but they will be rented out in the private sector, which means they will probably be occupied by students."