TWO Darlington post offices are to be scrapped next month - provoking anger from campaigners who fear pensioners will lose a community lifeline.

The Faverdale and North End facilities had been the subject of speculation for several weeks, as a public consultation on their future was carried out.

Post Office bosses confirmed last week that both would be shut down - Faverdale on December 8 and North End two days later.

They announced the moves after deciding that there were too many outlets competing for too little business.

Chairman of the Cockerton area action group, Roger Clark, said: "There are a lot of elderly people who live in this area and I think they will find it a big loss.

"Not a lot have transport and it is a case of whether they can get a bus, particularly with the winter coming."

"The closest would be in Cockerton village, which is about half a mile away."

The lengthy consultation process gave MPs, customers and local groups the chance to voice concerns. David Mellows-Facer, area head for the Post Office, said: "Proposals to close Post Office branches are not made without considerable research and discussion.

"Concerns centred mainly on the effect of the closure on more elderly customers within the local community and the convenience of nearby alternative branches.

"Following this exercise we believe that the closure of these branches is the best course of action."

Cockerton East councillor Don Bristow said that despite most residents being aware of the closure, he was surprised at the absence of public reaction.

"I put a letter out to ask if anyone would like to find out more but nobody responded.

"I think it's remarkable, I thought there would have been more elderly people who would have been against it," he said.

Customers have been assured they will continue to have reasonable access to Post Office services and products across Darlington.