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.

The full list of branches at risk of closure, according to the Communication Workers Union, is below: Belfast City - 12-16 Bridge Street, BT1 1LT Edinburgh City - Waverley Mall, Waverley Bridge, EH1 1BQ Glasgow - 136 West Nile Street, G1 2RD

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.