ANGER has greeted the news that four urban post offices are to close on the Isle of Wight.

Pan Post Office in Newport, Gurnard Post Office, Oakfield sub-post office and Avenue Road post office, in Sandown, are all to close in a plan postal chiefs say safeguards the future of the Island's remaining 54 outlets.

The plans have been published following requests from MPs, councillors and consumer watchdog Postwatch for Post Office Limited to provide overall plans for particular areas.

Island MP Andrew Turner has described the news as "disappointing", and added that he would be working to prevent the closures.

He said: "The government is paying the Post Office to close urban post offices through offering compensation to those who close down.

"They are also encouraging people not to use post offices by making it difficult to get their pension payments through them."