PLANS to open a new post office in Horwich have been cancelled.

The organisation was due to open a branch in A&A News in Chorley New Road in order to provide greater provision for the town.

But in a recent letter to the town council, a spokesman from the Post Office said the new service was no longer being opened.

It said: "Following my recent letter regarding the new Post Office branch opening in A & A News, I am writing to inform you that, unfortunately, the new Post Office opening has been cancelled.

"I would like to apologise for the inconvenience this cancellation may cause. I will write to you again if I have any updates about new service provision in your area."

After the council wrote back to the organisation requesting further details, the spokesman said the decision had been made "for reasons outside our control".

He continued: "It is not always possible for us to provide full details of the background to our decisions.

"Once we have further updates we will write to you and other local representatives. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused."

The news comes after the recent revelation that the Post Office in Bolton town centre would be closing its current premises and opening up in a nearby retail unit.

The proposal is to close the branch in Deansgate and open a new one in the shop at 12 Oxford Street.

The move is being made because the current branch is deemed "not sustainable" for the future.

The majority of post offices are now run as franchises or on an agency basis alongside shops.

The 15 staff at the branch will have their options discussed with them on an individual basis.

Solutions may include redeployment, voluntary settlement or transfer of employment to the franchisee.