Post Office bosses have pledged to try to re-open another post office in Clayton Green -- and have launched an appeal for suitable premises and staff.

The Clayton Green branch will shut early next week after Dillon's Newsagents, in which the service is occupied, informed the Post Office that it is to close.

David Turner, group property director of Walsall-based T&S Stores, who own Dillon's, said their intention to open a One Stop Convenience Store was foiled by planning problems.

He said: "Despite our considerable efforts we were left with no option but to dispose of the business, but unfortunately no purchasers have been forthcoming since the property was put on the market in April, 1999.

Local residents were outraged over the closure. They say the post office is a lifeline to them. The nearest other one is almost a mile away.

Pensioner George Butler, 81, has sent off a 200-plus name petition to post office chiefs urging them to keep the service going. He said: "I have had people saying they are unable to get to another post office, whether it is Clayton Brook or Whittle-le-Woods.

"I'm trying to arrange through Help the Aged for Dial-A-Ride to take people because they are collecting money and it is not healthy to walk a long way with it."

Post Office spokesman Graham Moore said: "The post office will close on July 17 and we are looking for a new sub-postmaster and new premises.

"We have all sorts of different arrangements with all sorts of organisations who run post offices on our behalf."

He said, for example, some post offices are housed in supermarkets. These are run by a manager employed by the store and not a sub-postmaster.

Interested parties should write to Agency Recruitment, Post Office Section, Capstan house, 35 Broadway, Salford M5 2YY.