SOMERSET will be dealt a blow on Tuesday (February 26) when a Post Office announcement reveals that up to 50 of the county's rural post offices have been earmarked for closure.

Post Office Ltd is carrying out a review of its operations around the country, and a large number of Somerset's offices are expected to be axed.

The county is currently home to 140 post offices, so the anticipated closure programme would effectively reduce the service by more than a third.

With many small communities heavily reliant on the services provided by rural offices, fears have been raised that many people - particularly vulnerable elderly - will be left isolated and helpless by the closures.

Bridgwater's MP Ian Liddell-Grainger is among those vowing to fight what he says is "another nail in the coffin of rural communities".

He said: "I will fight every single closure and have already prepared a letter outlining my feelings to Post Office and the Government.

"It's unfair. We were told four years ago that closures then would be the last ones, but there has been two more rounds since then. It's important to fight every closure because next time it could be your post office. Where will it end?"

And he was backed by political rival Theo Butt Philip, the Liberal Democrat candidate who will oppose him in the next General Election.

He said: "These cuts will be devastating for local communities. Post offices are more than just businesses; they are the heart of our rural Somerset village life.

"Over the last two decades Somerset has faced numerous post office closures by successive Labour and Conservative Governments but nothing matches this level of cuts which will devastate many villages and towns."

Post Office Ltd is staying tight-lipped over exactly which offices will be affected, but will be carrying out public consultations after Tuesday's announcement before any closures are enforced.

A spokesman said: "The Government has recognised that fewer people are using Post Office branches, partly because traditional services, including benefit payments, are now available through other means such as the internet or directly through banks.

"It has concluded that the shape and size of the overall network of Post Office branches needs to change.

"Post Office Ltd has now put in place a Network Change Programme which will involve the compulsory compensated closure of up to 2,500 branches, with around 500 of these being replaced with more efficient ways of serving the local community."