Plans have been revealed by the Post Office to close or franchise 115 crown offices, these are branches run directly by the business rather than subpostmasters and are often found in city and town centres.

He said Halifax and Lloyds banks had "deserted" the town on the basis there was a Post Office there that could "take up the slack". Business and Trade Minister Gareth Thomas said "no decisions" had been taken about Kendal or any other individual directly managed branch.

More than 100 Post Office branches have been marked for closure and jobs are set to be lost Birmingham’s city centre Post Office branch on Pinfold Street could close amid sweeping cuts at the company.