The existing post office in Cowley centre Customers of one of Oxford's main post offices are unhappy it is being moved inside a super- market.

The Cowley Post Office, in Barns Road, is to close and relocate to the newly refurbished Co-op store in Templars Square. The Post Office says the branch is losing too much money to continue.

But although opening hours at the new branch, run by the Midcounties Co-Op, will be slightly longer, there will be one less sales counter.

Customers told the Oxford Mail they feared the new branch would not be big enough for the number of people using it.

They are worried the shop will be so packed it will become a nightmare to shop in, and it will be more more difficult to use post office services.

Pamela Dawson, 73, of Blackbird Leys, said: "I think it's disgusting that a main post office is closing.

"It will be very confusing with people trying to do their shopping and others queuing up for the post office.

"On pension day it's terrible, just so busy, the queue goes out of the door."

Zola Kelly, of Sunnyside, Cowley, said: "I think that they want everyone to go direct debit with everything, and this is the way they are going about it.

"I do feel for older people who rely the post office."

Samantha Spurgeon, of Monks Close, Blackbird Leys, said: "I think it's going to be absolute chaos - I don't think it's going to be big enough. It's a major post office branch, it's absolutely packed all the time."

Leonora Hannon, 56, of Briar Way, Blackbird Leys, said: "I don't like the idea. It will be chaos what with the shop and everything else. I don't like change."

Royal Mail spokesman Jaquie Stenson said: "The existing branch is very small for a main post office branch, the area in the Co-op will be of a similar size.

"There will be plenty of space for queuing within the store. There will be one less counter but we will make sure at busy times all the counters are manned."

Post Office Ltd network service manager Nick Gittens added: "This type of branch lost more than £50m last year, and that is not something any organisation can sustain indefinitely."

The new branch will open at 8.30am on Mondays, and Wednesdays to Saturdays, and will stay open until 5.30pm each evening.

The branch will continue to open at 9.30am on Tuesdays for staff training.