MORE than 1,000 residents have joined a campaign fighting the planned closure of their village post office.

The Durham Road branch in Blackhill, near Consett, is one of 11 across County Durham earmarked for closure in November.

In less than two weeks, David Llewellyn, Derwentside District Council ward member for Blackhill, has collected 1,100 signatures on a petition against the closure.

"Feelings are running high," he said. "No one wants to see the post office close.

"Hundreds of people have gone to the trouble of signing the petition and they deserve my thanks."

The branch is scheduled to be closed as part of The Post Office's national urban network reinvention programme.

This identifies sites it deems to be non-viable, and has already led to 53 branch closures in the region.

Other post offices facing the axe in November include Masefield Close, East Stanley and Hollyhill Gardens, South Stanley.

In the Durham area, branches in Marshall Terrace in Gilesgate Moor and Front Street, Nevilles Cross, are to be shut down.

Consultation on the proposals ends on Monday, September 27. People can comment to Postwatch on 08456 013265 or write to Post Office Closures, Freepost, Postwatch.