Post Office plans to open a "hut" in Kay Gardens are an insult to the people of Bury, say councillors.

And Labour bosses deny that they have not done enough to help find a long-term location in the town centre since the closure of Forbuoys.

The row followed a front page article in the Bury Times in which council leader Wayne Campbell accused the Royal Mail of a lack of effort. The company has submitted a planning application for a temporary building in Kay Gardens.

Tory councillor Roy Walker once more suggested re-opening the former Post Office in Crompton Street.

"The building could share services, for instance health, adult education, the police," he told last Wednesday's council meeting. "We could share funding with these agencies as well as the Post Office, rather than have a hut on Kay Gardens."

But deputy council leader Mike Connolly said: "The Crompton Street building is beautiful, but it is now owned by Scottish Widows and it is up to them what they do with it. This council has made several offers to the Post Office to find suitable sites; we even offered part of the town hall foyer.

"For the Post Office to offer the people a hut on Kay Gardens is an insult. They should be providing a permanent, accessible building in this town."

Tory group leader Bob Bibby blamed the Government for the demise of post offices. "They stopped pensioners cashing their giros there which made it uneconomical to stay open," he said.