AN urgent review of what can be done to save local post offices is to be carried out by Bolton Council.

Town Hall chiefs want to establish what courses of action are open to them ahead of an announcement next month about which branches in the borough have been earmarked for closure by the Government.

The Conservative Group in Bolton called for councillors from all groups to give their commitment to sub post offices and look at all options for helping them.

Cllr John Walsh said: "The threat to the borough is substantial and we have grave concerns.

"I have been told all the post offices have been informed whether they will stay open or close but if they divulge their fate will lose their compensation.

"With people needing to be within three miles of a post office, Bolton could lose a lot of branches with just Deansgate and a few others, like Horwich, remaining open to cover the area.

"The council has a role to play. There are real opportunities for the council to look at ways in which it can support the network."

The council was asked to look at all options such as re-locating branches into public buildings or seeking shared uses like police "shops" to replace police stations."

Cllr Cliff Morris, leader of the council, said: "We will do everything in our power to help.

"We have already moved services into post offices and they can have viable services if they wish to."

Councillors discussed the importance of post offices and the difficulties they face.

Cllr Diane Brierley, who was a post mistress for 12 years, said: "We all understood things had to change.

"The Government is withdrawing the bulk of the work though and I don't know any business that can stay profitable in that situation.

"Customers are at the heart of the post office and they will have to travel if they close.

"Businesses near post offices will also suffer as the footfall will drop.

"Bolton people need their post offices and the council needs to look at options to assist in anyway they can."

Members of the council voted unanimously to look at all ways of helping post offices earmarked for closure after the election.