EIGHTY post offices across the North-East are the latest to be earmarked for closure as part of the controversial programme to cut the national network.

If the closures go ahead, it would take the number of branches shut in the North- East and North Yorkshire to almost 160.

The Post Office has started a six-week public consultation on the proposals, although the last round of closures in the region saw all the 37 proposed branches in County Durham, Cleveland and North Yorkshire being shut, despite opposition in many cases. In February, 40 closures were confirmed in other parts of North Yorkshire.

Officials announced yesterday that in 23 places an outreach service would replace a closed post office and that one village in Northumberland would get one even though it did not currently have a permanent branch.

Fifty seven will close outright.

The Post Office says that 99.5 per cent of the areas population will either see no change or will remain within one mile of an alternative branch, but the plans have already provoked condemnation.

The Shadow Secretary of State for Business, and Shadow Minister for Tyneside, Alan Duncan, said yesterday: We dont have any confidence in the consultation process and normally when a little post office goes, the shop, which its part of, goes as well.

This Government is destroying many aspects of rural and urban England, and we think they and the Post Office should suspend this consultation.

The Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Durham City, Carol Woods, who is also city council deputy leader, said: The Government has shown utter disregard for the local communities affected by todays announcement.

For many people C often those most in need C travelling to the nearest post office will no longer be an option.

They will have to go without vital services. This attack strikes at the heart of our communities.

Countryside Alliance North East regional director Richard Dodd said: We all feel that the Government has missed the point on post offices.

Financial viability cannot be the only concern when considering whether to continue subsidising the post office network.

Post offices are the social heart of many communities, and without them many thousands of people, including many elderly and disabled, would be increasingly isolated.

But Durham City Labour MP Roberta Blackman-Woods said: Of course I would prefer that no branches had to close, but the Post Office has made this decision as part of its Network Change Programme as people are using post offices much less now and in different ways than was the case in the past.

She added she would like some kind of counter service to continue to be provided in the Gilesgate area of the city where a post office has been earmarked for closure.

North Durham Labour MP Kevan Jones said he would consult with residents affected by the three closures planned for his constituency, while North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong also urged people affected by closures in her constituency to contact her.

She said: The post offices have been an important part of local communities for many years and the money going in to the post office business from the taxpayer has often helped the shop that the post office is located in, to remain open.

There have been many changes in recent years, with fewer people using post offices, and the level of subsidy having to take account of that.

Adrian Wales, Post Office Ltds network development manager for the North-East, said: We believe these proposals offer the best prospect for a sustainable way forward for Post Office services in this area, bearing in mind the minimum access criteria and the other factors we have to take into account.

Under the area plan proposals, 93.2 per cent of the areas population will see no change at all to their nearest branch.

A further 6.3 per cent would have access to post office services within one mile by road distance from the nearest alternative branch, with 1.8 per cent being within half a mile.

Postmasters and mistresses at affected branches declined to comment, but a worker at one village business facing the axe said: This is a little village and people rely on the post office.

It is as if the British way of life is disappearing. Little people dont matter. The nearest post office is half a mile away and it is up a one in ten bank.

It will be difficult in winter when it is icy.

The customers are upset about it because the post office has been here a long time.

The consultation deadline is Monday, August 11.

The Post Office proposals can be viewed at the website postoffice.co.uk/network change.

ö People wanting to comment should write to Adrian Wales, Network Development Manager, c/o National Consultation Team, Freepost Consultation Team, send emails to consultation@postoffice.co.

uk or call the customer helpline on 08457-22-33-44.