THE Post Office has confirmed that it will close a Durham branch next month.

The company said the office at Fieldhouse Lane will shut as part of a shake-up designed to safeguard the future of other branches in the city.

The closure is part of a national programme of restructuring and modernisation of more than 9,000 urban branches.

The company said that in many cities and towns, there were too many outlets competing for too little business.

It said that this, along with increased running costs and concerns about future income, including changes to benefit payments, will leave many sub-postmasters without viable businesses unless changes are made.

Last year, sub-postmasters were asked to give their views about the future.

The Post Office agreed with Fieldhouse Lane's sub-postmaster that the branch should close on Monday, July 14.

It said it consulted the public, city councillors, local organisations and Labour MP Gerry Steinberg about the closure.

David Mellows-Facer, the Post Office's head of area, said: "Proposals to close Post Office branches are not made without considerable research and discussion.

"We received a number of comments about the proposal to close Fieldhouse Lane Post Office branch, and the main issues raised were around the convenience of alternative branches and the effect on the elderly community.

"We carefully considered the points raised. However, following this exercise, we still believe that the closure of this branch is the correct course of action.''

He said people would still have reasonable access to local Post Office products and services at the post office branches in Silver Street and at Framwellgate Moor. Both were geared up to cope with more customers.