For the time being it is business as usual at the offices in Woodston, New England and West Town, but posters have been put up in their windows warning people of the closure proposals.

Outside West Town post office in Mayor's Walk, retired RAF man Roy Stock (72), of nearby Alderman's Drive, said: "I think it's despicable. This post office offers a good service to the people around here. I have got a car and I can drive to another branch, but a lot of people are not so lucky and they rely on the service being near to where they live.

What do you think?
Comment below, email us: news@ peterboroughtoday.co.uk or telephone the newsdesk 01733 588719.

Read more: Special Report: Hands Off Our Post Offices
------------------

"The whole idea seems a nonsense to me."

Muzaffar Hussain (48), a teacher from Mayor's Walk, said: "Whenever I use the post office it's always busy, so I don't understand why it's been chosen to close.

"This is very bad news for this community, especially for elderly people who can't get to another branch."

A female customer at the same post office, who did not wish to be named, said it was "terrible" news.

"For me it will be a huge blow," she said. "I suffer with auto-immune disease and I'm quite disabled at times, so I can't always get into town to get to the post office.

"I never thought this post office was ever going to be in jeopardy."

Over in New England, shopkeeper Linda Spires (55) said the closure of the post office in Lincoln Road would come as a blow both to traders and the community.

Mrs Spires, who co-owns Spires Bakery opposite the post office, said: "We are not happy about it because when places like post offices start to go, other places will close.

"We get a lot of pensioners coming to our shop after visiting the post office, so I expect it will have an impact on our business, too."

Paula Hides (44), an unemployed medical secretary from Paston, is a regular customer at New England post office.

She said: "I'm against the closure because it is going to have a big impact on community spirit.

"Local communities are a dying breed in places like this, and post offices help keep them together."