Internet could be saviour of post offices

Although Post Office bosses insist the closure of 14 branches in the town -- which started this week -- will be enough to safeguard the offices which are left, postmasters are seeking ways to bring back old customers.

Thousands of people have abandoned post offices after the Government introduced new payment methods for benefits.

Postmasters say the decision to pay benefits and pensions directly into bank accounts -- meaning former customers no longer have to step foot inside a post office -- is responsible for a massive slump in trade.

It is hoped new customers will be lured back by the service, which would allow them to shop online, search for jobs and pay bills.

Bill Stephens, sub postmaster at Crescent Road Post Office, in Great Lever, said the scheme would help but still fears further closures.

"It's gone too far now," he said. "The postmasters who are willing to diversify and sign up to this sort of thing will be the ones that stay open the longest but I believe there will be more branches forced to shut.

"It is a good idea. Anything that can be used to bring in extra customers has to be viewed as a positive.

"The whole industry is being changed and needs to keep up."

The National Federation of Sub Postmasters is set to unveil the plans early this year.

Bhavna Desai, spokesman for the North Manchester branch of the NFSP, said the organisation would welcome diversification to help bring customers back to post offices.

She said: "The basic principle sounds like an excellent idea.

"As I understand it, there has been a pilot scheme run but we haven't heard anything from the Government so far and I'm not sure about how it would work.

"We provide not just a financial service but also a social service and anything that can be used to bring extra customers through the door and extra revenue would be very welcome.

"People in the profession are very willing to learn new things about business and technology."