LEIGH MP Andy Burnham is urging the Post Office to rethink its plans to close seven branches in his constituency.

He has called for an urgent meeting with officials claiming closure plans published last week would leave many people in Lowton, Pennington and parts of Leigh more than a mile from their nearest Post Office. Mr Burnham has also launched a Parliamentary petition calling on bosses to think again.

Copies of the petition will be distributed to local organisations and are available from the MP's Leigh office.

Mr Burnham accepts that the viability of local Post Offices had been effected by a change in shopping habits and lifestyles.

But he claims but the plans go too far.

He said: "For elderly and disabled people to have to travel more than a mile from the Post Office without access to a car is unacceptable.

"I will be meeting Post Office officials soon and will give notice that I intend to fight these plans."

He urged his constituents to collect as many signatures as possible opposing the plans before the six week consultation period ends in six weeks time.

The seven branches proposed for closure are: Lowton Post Office, Church Lane, Lowton; Lowton St Marys Post Office, Newton Road, Lowton St Marys; St Lukes Lowton Post Office, Stone Cross Lane, Lowton; Plank Lane Post Office, Firs Lane, Leigh; St Helen's Road Post Office, St Helen's Road, Leigh; Scowcroft Street Post Office, Atherton Road, Hindley Green; and Wigan Road Post Office, Wigan Road, Leigh.