VILLAGERS are being urged to oppose plans to reduce opening hours at three rural post offices.

The Post Office is considering making branches at Leeming Bar, Crakehall and North Stainley satellites of the main office at Bedale.

The offices, run as private businesses under Post Office franchises, would stay open, but with much-reduced opening hours.

Leeming Bar would have its weekly hours cut from 41 to eight, Crakehall from 40 to 12 and North Stainley from 37 to seven.

Post Office bosses said the move was needed because the rural branches were not used enough. But villagers disagree, arguing they provide a vital service.

At a meeting last week, North Stainley with Sleningford Parish Council urged residents to write to post office chiefs asking them to reconsider.

In a statement to The Northern Echo, the parish council said: "North Stainley is one of the fastest-growing villages in the Harrogate district with a development with a significant number of houses still to be built.

"This is an expanding village with increasing demands, not decreasing needs.

"North Stainley Post Office serves not only its parishioners, but also people who travel to the village from the surrounding area."

Community leaders in Crakehall and Leeming Bar have also criticised the proposal.

A Post Office Limited spokesman said changes were needed if rural post offices were to survive.

He said the Government would review its £150m subsidy of rural post offices in 2008, and that the company had been asked to look at ways of maintaining the network before then.

He said: "We fully appreciate that people feel resistance to change, but we are committed to the survival of the rural post office network and we are committed to finding a way of maintain the service when you consider the amount of business actually transacted."

He said a Post Office representative was willing to meet councillors.

Villagers have until Friday, August 12, to contact the Post Office about the proposal.

The address to write to is: Matt Silcock, Post Office Limited, PO Box 2060, Watford, WD18 8ZW.