Are we seeing the dying days of our post offices?

(From Bristol Evening Post)

THREE more Bristol post offices might close as part of a controversial Government shake-up of the postal service. These proposed closures are defended as "tough commercial decisions" made due to dwindling trade - but many shocked customers say their post office is a lifeline which must stay open. Is this the end of the community post office? SARAH FEELEY investigates

CANCER victim Clive Helps says his local post office in Brislington is his lifeline. He said: "I don't know what I'd do if it closed, I'd be gutted.

"I've got cancer and sometimes I can't even get out of bed, so my wife goes to our local post office to get my benefit money. But she's diabetic and can't walk far, so what will we do if our nearest post office closes - how will we get our money?" Clive, aged 52, has just heard Kensington Hill Post Office could close as part of a radical and controversial reorganisation of the postal service. He said: "It's not just me who wants it to stay open. Elderly people who rely on this post office would have a long walk if it closed.

But nobody seems to care about that." The axe is hovering over two other Bristol post offices - in Ashley Road, St Paul's, and in …