HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition urging Royal Mail bosses to keep a threatened post office open as the company looks to make cost-saving cuts across the region.

The Neville Parade branch, in Newton Aycliffe, is one of 11 in County Durham that could be closed in November.

The Post Office says the closures are necessary because of falling customer numbers and increased running costs.

But objectors to the Newton Aycliffe proposals are hoping pension power will persuade them to keep the family-run business open.

Their protest came as council leaders announced plans to confront Post Office bosses over proposals to close seven sub-post offices in the York district.

Almost a third of the sub-post offices in York are under threat under plans to streamline the service in the city.

Next month, York City Council's ruling executive plans to meet the Post Office's head of area, David Mellows-Facer, to discuss the planned closures.

The talks, on September 20, will be followed by a public meeting to allow local residents to question Post Office chiefs.

Branches in Albemarle Road, Bishopthorpe Road, Boroughbridge Road, Clar-ence Street, Fishergate, Gale Lane and Holgate Road all face closure.

Council deputy leader Andrew Waller said they would be pressing the Post Office on the need to maintain levels of public service around the city.

"It is also important to demonstrate the plans they have to ensure that the remaining Post Offices remain viable, so that we do not need to go through the process again in a short period of time," he said.

At Newton Aycliffe, the Friends of Senior Citizens charity, which has its base opposite the at-risk post office in Stevens newsagents, staged a protest there all yesterday.

By lunchtime they had gathered about 600 signatures for their petition and were hoping to top the 1,000 mark by the end of the day. Peter Beaty, who organised the protest, said: "The public suppport has been excellent, we have even had people travelling from the other side of town to sign.

"I had one old lady on a zimmer frame and it took her 15 minutes to walk 300 yards.

"The Post Office expects that lady to walk all the way to the town centre. She could get a taxi, but that would cost her £4 from her meagre pension."

Copies of the petition, which has been signed by local councillors, will be placed in the Oak Tree pub, the nearby off-licence and the rugby club.

Mr Beaty said anyone unable to find a copy of the petition can telephone him after 5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday to add their name and address, on (01325) 313924.

A consultation process into the York closures is under way, and members of the public have until October 4 to submit comments.