The Hands off our Post Offices campaign, launched by The Evening Telegraph, has already attracted close to 2,000 signatures.

The petition was launched in March this year when the Post Office announced that there would be a large number of closures.

North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara will be presenting the ET petition to Downing Street at noon on Thursday (August 14).

He will be accompanied by city MP Stewart Jackson, leader of Peterborough City Council John Peach and ET Editor Mark Edwards.
The hit list of the 23 branches in Cambridgeshire was announced on July 8.

They included Ramsey St Mary's, Great Gidding, Holme and St Peter's Road, March, in Cambridgeshire and West Town, New England and Woodston in Peterborough.

The Post Office also announced a seven-week consultation exercise before a final decision is made on which branches will close.

There has been widespread opposition to the closures.

Special Report: Hands Off Our Post Offices
The ET launched its campaign in April 2008 as news of proposed closures across the region was confirmed.
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Public meetings organised by Mr Vara and Mr Jackson saw more than 150 residents attend each one to voice their concerns about the
distance and difficulty of getting to other branches.

But the Post Office says the cost-cutting exercise is needed to ensure their business remains viable.

Mr Vara said the large number of signatures that The ET campaign had attracted was a huge demonstration by the local community of their support of their post offices.

He added: "They are a vital resource for everyone, particularly the elderly and disabled.

"I very much hope that even at this stage the Government will take note of the massive support from people.

"It's the Government's decision to close post offices and they have the power to keep them open."

Mr Jackson, too, believes there is overwhelming support to keep the branches open.

He said: "I think there is a groundswell of feeling against the closure proposals. I hope the Post Office will take note and read all the e-mails and letters and think about rescinding their decision."