Places Features

The potential local closures are part of a national programme to reduce Post Office losses of £4m a week.

During the summer, leading up to the announcement of which post offices will close, BBC Radio Cornwall's special correspondent, Chris Young will be visiting Cornish post offices to discuss the fears with villagers and post office staff...

Tim Nicholls is the Post Office network development manager who's responsible for the closures in Cornwall. He spoke to our reporter James Churchfield...

Until last year, management preferred to seek volunteers for closure, and avoided enforced cuts.

But the Post Office says it has no choice.

The government, concerned at the network's mounting debts, has told it to close up to 2,500 post offices over the next 18 months.

Picturesque Crackington

Potentially up to 50 in Cornwall alone are at risk.

The aim is to curb losses running at £4m a week.

A number of small rural offices seem hopelessly uneconomic, according to figures produced by the government.

They show the 800 smallest rural post offices are used by fewer than 16 people a week, which equates to a cost of £17 per visit.

However some of the offices set for closure claim they are thriving and profitable.

Nationally the post office has been losing large numbers of customers who used to come to the Post Office to claim their benefits.

The government's decision to allow payments straight into claimant's bank accounts has robbed the network of many clients, and management have yet to find a replacement customer base.