DURHAM County Council is calling on the Post Office to rethink its plan to close seven branches that are considered unviable.

The company has identified the businesses for the axe as part of a national review of operations in urban areas.

Local politicians of all shades have condemned the proposals as reducing important community facilities. In some areas, petitions have been raised.

The Post Office says the branches have struggling since the Government's decision to pay benefits directly into bank accounts.

The branches facing the axe are: Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland; Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate Moor, Durham; Front Street, Nevilles Cross, Durham; Masefield Close, East Stanley; Hollyhill Gardens, South Stanley; Blackhill branch, Durham Road, Consett; Neville Parade, Newton Aycliffe.

In Darlington, branches at Eastbourne Road, Salisbury Terrace, Hollyhurst Road and Victoria Road may close.

Deputy chief executive Andrew North has written to the Post Office, saying: "The county council regards the services that the Post Office provides to the people of County Durham as being essential.

"We understand the Post Office itself faces a challenge to achieve an economically-sustainable urban network for the future and we have therefore given very careful consideration to these latest changes proposed for the network.

"One of the council's key corporate aims is to help sustain and develop strong local communities, both socially and economically.

"In this respect, these proposals will inevitably have an adverse impact on our own initiatives, and those of our partner organisations.

"A Post Office can often form the nucleus of a local community and business infrastructure and, without that presence, its future viability can be less certain.

"If customers are forced to move elsewhere to access Post Office services, there is a very real danger that their custom for other local businesses will move with them and other local amenities will be lost.''

Consultation on the proposed closure ends today.

So far, 53 urban branches across the region have been closed.