A PETITION to save Ulverston Post Office saw one campaigner walk 500 miles in pursuit of signatures.

Malcolm Tyson, 73, who has lived in the town nearly all his life, went out every day collecting more than 7,000 signatures.

He trekked close to 500 miles over 100 days in the process.

Yesterday Barrow and Furness Labour MP John Woodcock presented the 8,000 name petition in the House of Commons at the dissolution of Parliament. It is the third most signed document this Parliament.

The presentation signalled the culmination of a campaign that began in County Square on January 13 when Mr Woodcock launched the Save Ulverston Post Office initiative just hours after it was announced that the outlet would have to find a franchise partner or be shut down.

"Everybody has been very responsive. Not a single person refused to sign it," said Mr Tyson. "I seriously hope that the post office will stay open after I spent so much time talking to people!

"Ulverston is a medium-sized town and it is growing due to a number of housing projects and Glaxo and BAE Systems building up again.

"Having a post office is a necessity. We don't just want it stuck in a shop somewhere."

Mr Tyson went into more than 90 different shops in Ulverston collecting signatures, as well as speaking to people on the street.

"It was a good experience and I met a lot of people," he said. "I have always been gregarious and I like a chat."

Mr Woodcock said: “With almost 8,000 paper signatures and dozens more online, the response from our community to save the Ulverston post office has been amazing.

"I am grateful to everyone who has helped with our campaign, particularly Ulverstonian Malcolm Tyson who has walked around 500 miles while collecting hundreds of signatures.

The recent closures of banks in the area has played its part in fuelling the desire in Ulverston for the post office to remain.

Mr Tyson said: "A premier reason for doing this is that HSBC closed down last October. They told me I'd be alright because they had a contract with the post office.

"Then, two months later, we heard that the post office might be closing down too. I couldn't do anything about HSBC but I thought we might have a chance here."

Jayne Kendall, the clerk of Ulverston Town Council, told Monday's meeting that she had been given assurances that the service would remain in the town centre, and a number of Ulverston businesses had approached the post office to franchise out the service.

She said it could be that the service remains in its current County Road building, but it was more likely it would be moved to another building in the town.

"The current situation is that these businesses are submitting business plans," she said. "The Post Office will consider them and there will then a six-week public consultation and the town council will be kept informed of any developments.

"It could take up to 18 months for it to be resolved."