TOWNSPEOPLE have voted overwhelmingly against plans to close their local Post Office and relocate it to a supermarket.

At a packed meeting in Helmsley’s town hall a total of 169 people voted against the proposal, with only five in favour.

The meeting was called by Ryedale’s Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake after the Helmsley in Business group raised concerns over the plan to relocate the Post Office into the town’s Costcutter store.

Group chairman Lizzie Rohan said: “We had a massive turn out and there is a lot of local support for retaining the Post Office.

"A lot of questions were asked and some answers given, but we still need more clarity from the Post Office.

"We now need to digest what was said would urge people to respond to the consultation."

A Post Office spokesman said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Helmsley and we are confident this new modern service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

The consultation on the proposal ends on February 8. People should email their comments to consultation@postoffice.co.uk