HUNDREDS of Hythe residents are battling to keep a payment point for their electricity key meters.

The key charger slot is at Netley View Post Office and Stores and was due to have been switched off permanently on May 31 as part of a change of policy by Southern Electric.

The power company at present has about 620 key charger agents at post offices across the south. But a Post Office spokesman said: "We won't offer this facility any more because Southern Electric has decided not to distribute them through post offices any more."

Southern Electric spokesman Denis Kerby confirmed that an agreement had been reached with Pay Point, the UK's leading payment exponent, where terminals also accepted gas and telephone fees. There were 900 Pay Points in the region, he said.

At present, the nearest Pay Points to Netley View are in the centre of Hythe and at Holbury Co-op, both of which would amount to around £1.20 for the return bus trips.

Mr Kerby said Southern Electric accepted that there was a need to have something close and added that efforts would be made to provide a suitable alternative.

"We have got until May 31 to get something sorted out and negotiations will be taking place," he said.

Netley View resident Janet Hayward said: "Something we need has been taken away and we are angry about it."

As the signatures rolled in on the petition put into the shop by customers, store manager John Ellis said: "The key charging facility is very popular and our customers have made it clear that they don't want to lose it."