CAMPAIGNS are being launched to save post offices from being closed.

The Post Office has revealed that offices in Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate Moor, and in Front Street, Nevilles Cross, are among 11 in the county that are facing the axe in November.

The list also includes branches at Masefield Close, East Stanley, Hollyhill Gardens, South Stanley, and Durham Road, Blackhill.

The Post Office's national 'urban network reinvention' programme, aimed at pruning what it considers to be unviable branches following the introduction of benefit payments to bank accounts, has already led to 53 closures in built-up areas in the North-East.

In Durham, Liberal Democrat city councillors are urging customers to back their campaign to save the threatened branches by signing protest petitions.

Council cabinet member Carol Woods, who is also her party's parliamentary candidate for the city, said: "It is an erosion of community facilities."

She said the proposed closures would particularly hit the elderly who would face bus journeys to alternative branches.

"We have lots of problems with anti-social behaviour and deprivation. If we were able to keep lots of facilities within the community and build the community we would have fewer problems as a result.''

Coun Woods said that she blamed Government policy for the closure programme, adding: "The interesting thing is they are spending £180m on closures but only £30m to help improve remaining offices.''

Labour Durham county councillor Peter Thompson, who lives in the area, said: "We will be opposing the closure. Post Offices are meeting places and the loss of that social interaction cannot be good for a community."

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

They can also write to David Mellows-Facer at the Post Office's National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, Watford, WD18 8ZW.