Another two Winchester sub-post offices face closure as part of a nationwide shake-up

Highcliffe and Hyde are set to shut in April with the agreement, in each case, of the sub-postmaster and Post Office chiefs are now seeking the views of the public.

Highcliffe sub-postmaster, Brian Gerrard (65) was born over the Gordon Avenue premises and has run the business since 1965.

He took over from his mother, Freda, who opened the shop in 1934.

Mr Gerrard said: "It will be very sad for the community although we hope that we can keep our shop going."

Mr Gerrard said closure of the sub-post office was not something he wanted but it was "inevitable" as a result of the government decision to switch benefits and pensions to direct payment from April.

Some postmasters have been offered two years salary to close.

"It doesn't compensate for our jobs or our life here but if we don't accept, the post office could still be closed," said Mr Gerrard, who runs the business with his wife, Denise.

John Tarbuck (73) has been sub-postmaster in Egbert Road, Hyde, for more than 30 years.

He said: "I am in agreement with the closure because I am of retirement age."

He added that he did not know if the Corner Stores shop would stay open.

A Post Office spokesman said: "There are simply not enough customers for the number of offices in towns and cities and there is the prospect of further customer losses from April 2003."

Tough commercial decisions had to be taken to modernise and safeguard the network: "We do not want branches closing in an ad hoc manner," the spokesman added.

But Winchester MP, Mark Oaten, said post offices were "the backbone of many communities" and added that the proposed closures could hit Winchester hard.

"This is a cull of smaller post offices. Hyde and Highcliffe have now joined Kingsgate Street branch on the Winchester hit list.

"If closures are going to happen, then they have to be done sensitively and with full consultation."

Representations on the closure proposals may be sent to Drew McBridge, Head of Area Post Office Ltd, c/o National Consultation Team, PO Box 641, St Albans, AL1 5XN. by February 24th.