I would very much like the opportunity to reply to wannabe councillor Jesamine Kays interesting but sadly incorrect view on the closure of post offices.

This Labour government has waged an unrepentant war on the post office; the innocent sub-postmaster, and the unsuspecting customers, have been their target.

This Labour government took away directly or indirectly the core of all post office services, and billions of pounds worth of business was withdrawn almost overnight.

For the unsuspecting postmaster this was death by a thousand cuts.

No-one, least of all the post offices, denied that changes needed to be made. Subpostmasters were called on time and time again to support the modernisation programme, which they did, many spending thousands of pounds to improve their offices.

This Labour government gave taxpayers' money with the one hand and then took it away from the post office with the other. I defy any business to remain buoyant if you force 40 per cent of people to go elsewhere to receive their pensions and benefits, followed by the removal of everyday services, ie television licence.

I would like to meet the people who argue that we should close down post offices in their area because they only have 50 customers a week.

Well I say, let's see who is right.

The Government has put an embargo on the publication of post office closures in the Bolton until June 10 - rest assured, on June 10 a post office near you could be closing.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough Dales Brow Sharples