Counters at Warwick Place, Milverton, West Street, Warwick, and Albion Street, Kenilworth, are among 50 across Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire which will begin to shut from next month.

Leamington and Warwick MP James Plaskitt denounced Post Office managers for not listening, following the announcement this morning.

People in Milverton had reacted strongly to the proposed closure, part of a national modernisation programme.

Some 150 people attended a meeting at Leamington Town Hall organised by Mr Plaskitt, to which Post Office managers had been invited. Hundreds more signed petitions and personally responded to a consultation.

Fears for the branch, used by 400 people each day, were heightened in November when it appeared on a secret map, published on the internet in error, which seemed to show it had been earmarked for closure before any consultation.

Mr Plaskitt said, "This announcement casts serious doubt over the so-called consultation. Milverton residents put up powerful and relevant arguments as to why this closure should be reconsidered.

"All I have had from Post Office is a simple announcement that they are going to close it anyway."

"This curt response from Post Office won't do. I am now writing to the chief executive demanding a point-by-point response to the arguments I set out in my response to the consultation.

"They cannot be allowed to simply brush our arguments aside."

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