HALF the post offices in the Worsley, Little Hulton and Atherton areas are to close.

The bombshell news has been dropped by Post Office bosses who say it is part of a national programme of urban closures.

Of the 13 urban post offices, six are likely to close from November.

The Post Office says there are too many offices competing for too little business and claim the move will "safeguard access to a post office for all communities."

Dozens of Post Offices are closing across Britain. In Bolton, 4,500 people objected to a quarter of the borough's post offices being shut down. They signed a petition, backing the Bolton Evening News' Save Our Post Offices campaign but the closures went ahead.

The action was condemned by MPs. who fear the effect the decision will have on outlying communities and the elderly.

The post offices to close are: Bolton Road Post Office, Bolton Road, Atherton; Greenheys Post Office, Manchester Road, Little Hulton; Manchester Road East Post Office, Manchester Road East, Little Hulton; Linnyshaw Post Office, Manchester Road, Worsley; Mosley Common Post Office, Mosley Common Road, Worsley; and Toppings Bridge Post Office, Worsley Road North, Worsley.

Eddie Herbert, the Post Office's area head, said: "Proposals to close post offices are not made without considerable research and discussion so we are anxious that customers and all relevant organisations understand why we consider it necessary to reduce the size of our network.

"The harsh reality is that many urban post offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business."

People are being invited to write to the Post Office expressing their concerns by September 8. Write to Eddie Herbert, National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, Watford. WD18 8ZW.