PEOPLE fighting proposed post office closures in the region have until close of business today to state their case.

A six-week period of consultation over plans to shut 37 branches in Cleveland, South Durham and Richmond ends today.

The proposed closures, along with plans to replace two branches with outreach services, are part of a national review of the Post Office network which could see 2,500 branches axed.

Bosses say cuts are needed because the business is losing money as less people use it for traditional services such as benefits payments.

A spokesman for Post Office Limited said that as of last night more than 1,100 people had contacted the company about the proposals.

He said all public feedback would be carefully considered alongside criteria set by the Government before final decisions are announced on May 13.

The first closures, he said, are likely to take place about three to four weeks after that date.

At around the same time postmasters and mistresses in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Durham are expected to discover their fate.

They will get around 11 weeks warning before the post office network review for those areas is published and a new round of consultation begins.

Many of the communities that would be affected by the proposals for Cleveland, South Durham and Richmond have campaigned to save their branch.

And politicians and action groups, including postal services watchdog Postwatch, have voiced concerns that some closures would leave vulnerable people isolated and threaten local economies.

Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield where four branches are threatened, has written to Post Office bosses to support customers trying to save Croft post office, in Hurworth Place, Darlington, and Simpasture, in Newton Aycliffe.

He said: "The Post Office network does need rationalising, there are a lot of branches with too few customers.

"But this was a consultation exercise and I believe Post Office Limited genuinely wants local views and information so I've represented constituents' views.

"Simpasture was the one in my area that launched a big campaign, with more than 4,000 names on a petition, so I've supported it."

To express your views email consultation@postoffice.co.uk or call 08457-223344.