THE closure of two post office branches in Ferryhill has been confirmed.

Cleves Cross and the Broom post offices will close as part of a national programme to modernise the Post Office's network of more than 9,000 urban branches.

Increased running costs and concerns about future income, including changes to the way benefits are paid, mean that many sub-postmasters will no longer have viable businesses unless changes are made to the service.

Last year, the Post Office agreed with the subpostmaster of the Cleves Cross and Broom branches that the two offices should close in September.

This week, following a public consultation exercise during which customers, MPs and local organisations were asked for their views, the company has confirmed that Cleves Cross will close on September 3 and the Broom branch on September 8.

Area head David Mellows-Facer said: "Following this exercise, we believe that the closure of these branches is the correct course of action."

He said: "Customers in Ferryhill will continue to have reasonable access to local Post Office products and services, and we remain confident that the closure of Cleves Cross and the Broom Post Office branches will improve the long-term prospects of the other branches in the area.

"In particular, we have made sure that the Ferryhill Post Office branch in Eldon Terrace and West End Post Office branch in Parker Terrace are ready to cope with the extra customers they are likely to receive."