COUNCILLORS say they will back the fight to save a community's post office which has been scheduled for closure under a reorganisation of the national branch network.

Post Office Limited has identified Spennymoor's Mount Peasant post office for closure in October and has asked for people's views.

The company is restructuring its service nationally because it says there are too many branches for too few customers in many towns.

Government plans to pay benefits directly into people's bank accounts will mean that some businesses are no longer viable.

Other Spennymoor branches, in Oxford Street and Attwood Terrace, Tudhoe Colliery, are preparing to cope with extra customers.

But Spennymoor Town Council leader Councillor Bill Waters said the town centre outlet was already busy.

He said: "I am sure that members will back the community if they want it to stay open. There are already long queues at peak times at the Spennymoor branch, and there are a lot of old people who can't always get down there."

John Khan, Sedgefield Borough councillor for Low Spennymoor and Tudhoe Grange, said: "It seems a shame that all the small post offices are closing. We have always had a post office in that community. It serves the Tudhoe Moor estate and a lot of people rely on it."

Post Office Ltd has asked for the views of customers and other interested people before a final decision is taken. Write to David Mellows-Facer before August 21 at National Consultation Team, PO Box 641, St Albans, AL1 5XN.