THE axe has fallen on four post offices - leaving angry and elderly customers lacking vital community services.

Post Office Ltd has confirmed its proposal to permanently close four post offices in Colne next month as part of a national programme of closures.

They are Alkincoats Post Office in Parker Street, Burrell Avenue Post Office, Cottontree Post Office in Trawden Road and Lidgett Post Office in Keighley Road.

Alkincoats will close on October 15, Lidgett on October 16, Cottontree on October 18 and Burrell Avenue on October 23.

The closures will leave five post offices operating in the town.

In August the four were given a 'stay of execution' by the Post Office after their future was put into doubt and an extra two weeks was added to the consultation period so that all voices could be heard.

But protests have now proved fruitless.

Gordon Prentice, MP for Pendle, condemned the closures and warned that these may not be the last in Pendle with further re-structuring taking place next year.

Eddie Herbert, head of the Post Office for the Pendle area, said the closures were a result of the "harsh reality" that there were too many post offices for the amount of business they receive.

He said the main cause in the drop in trade was the decision by the Department of Works and Pensions to transfer benefit payments in to bank accounts instead of via Post Office passbooks.

He said: "Having carefully considered all the points raised, I still believe that the permanent closure of these offices is the correct course of action.

"I am confident that other branches in the area, particularly Colne Post Office in Albert Road, Skipton Road Post Office and Trawden Post Office in Church Street, are suitably located and can cope with the extra business these closures will cause."

But customers who have used the post offices for years have little sympathy with the bosses.

Judith Crabtree, 69, a retired headteacher from Lane Top, Winewall, uses the Cottontree Post Office in Trawden Road.

She said: "I think it's dreadful. I get my pension in cash from this post office and have for many years.

"I pay my water rates there, my telephone, electricity and gas and don't have any direct debits at all. Now I will have to go to Trawden or Skipton Road in Colne.

"Some people do not have bank accounts like I do and can perhaps not get to the Colne branch."

All four subpostmasters will leave the profession with the closing of the offices.

Bob Underwood has been subpostmaster at Burrell Avenue Post Office for 11 years.

He said: "The reduction of work at this office has meant it is no longer feasible to continue.

"I am concerned about those people who will be left without a service. My own feeling is that the government has lost its way in serving the community."