THE sudden closure of Middleham post office has left the community concerned about the future of the service in the town.

The Market Place premises shut without warning last Friday and the Official Receiver's office confirmed the former proprietor, Lyn Bayley, had filed her own bankruptcy petition the previous day and inquiries were ongoing.

She is understood to have run the business for about two years, but could not be contacted for comment.

Coun Tammi Tolhurst, the Mayor of Middleham, said the closure came as a shock to residents and traders.

The nearest post office is in Leyburn, four miles away, and Coun Tolhurst was particularly concerned about elderly people who were unable to make the journey to collect pensions.

The Middleham Key Centre was willing to accommodate a temporary post office service, but installing the necessary security might prove a stumbling block.

"The Post Office doesn't seem to be interested in our concerns and I think the closure will be used as an excuse to close it down permanently," said Coun Tolhurst.

"I know we are not a large town, but we have a lot of elderly residents and it is not right to simply say they can travel to Leyburn."

The town council was unable to trace the owner of the building, who is believed to live in Darlington, and has written to the Official Receiver to ask him to contact the owner to learn his intentions for the building.

"We cannot afford any time lapse, because the Post Office will simply say that if we have done without it for so long, we can live without it," said Coun Tolhurst.

Coun John Gill, who represented Richmondshire District Council on the Post Office Users' National Council, said the closure of rural post offices was a great concern.

"They are very much taken for granted and, once they close, it takes a lot to get them going again," he said.

He pledged to take up the Middleham issue with Richmondshire Business Forum.

A Post Office spokesman said attempts would be made to find someone to take over the service in Middleham.

"All we can advise people at the moment is to use the nearest branch at Leyburn," he said.

Anyone interested in running a post office in Middleham should contact the Post Office helpline on 0845 6016260.