POST Office bosses have revealed the hit list of branches they want to axe in Cumbria as part of the controversial Network Change programme - including 18 in the South Lakeland, Furness and Eden districts, reports Allan Tunningley.

A total of 45 post offices have been selected to close in Cumbria, but the Post Office says ten of them would be replaced by a part-time outreach' service.

However, none of the closures will be confirmed until the end of a six-week consultation period, which began on Tuesday. This will be suspended on April 10 during campaigning for local elections, which take place on May 1, but will then resume until May 27.

If confirmed, the closures will leave Cumbria with 226 post office branches, including the ten outreach services.

As revealed by The Westmorland Gazette last November, 40 post offices in this area were being assessed as possible candidates for closure, so the publication of the final hit list has also provided good news in many communities.

Gill Chilver, the sub-postmistress at Burton-in-Kendal post office, was so delighted her branch had escaped the axe, she handed out dozens of Greek pastries to customers by way of celebration.

"My partner is Greek and we decided to give out mini baklavas to customers to thank them for all the support they have given the post office over the past few months," she said.

Bosses at Post Office Ltd say their proposals mean 98.5 per cent of the county's population "will see no change or will remain within one mile of an alternative branch".

Richard Lynds, network development manager, said: "Rural parts of Cumbria - where 62.1 per cent of the population live - would be served by a total of 190 branches."

However, the Post Office's sole shareholder - the Government - came under increasing pressure this week to roll back the closure programme, embarrassingly winning a Commons motion on the issue by just 20 votes after 19 Labour MPs rebelled, including Eric Martlew, MP for Carlisle, and Lancaster and Morecambe MP Geraldine Smith.

The closure announcement has been met with mixed feelings at the affected post offices around the area.

Hilary Knaggs, who has run Longpool post office for nearly six years, said: "I am very sad that my post office has been chosen for possible closure, particularly as I have many loyal customers who have a high regard for the service, support and friendship we have provided over the years.

"Longpool is well used by the local people and it is disappointing that Post Office Ltd have chosen to close a post office that is actually doing well and had potential for expansion due to new housing developments close by and the reopening of Canal Head.

"However, I hope that the closure will mean increased business for other sub post offices in Kendal and that the people of Kendal will continue to support the other offices and mine until and if we close."

Stephen Barnes, who runs Kirkland post office, was also saddened by the closure list - but only because his own branch is not on it, despite hardly making a living for him and his wife Pat.

He said: "It's absolutely disgusting. I don't actually think they have put any thought into it whatsoever. I have now got to try and persuade them they are closing the wrong post office."

The closure list has caused particular upset in rural communities, where the local post office is often seen as a vital lifeline.

Jock Cairns, chairman of Dent Parish Council, said: "We are very unhappy to hear that our local post office counter is to be closed, because it is an important part of an active community.

"In isolated places like Dentdale, public transport is very limited for those who don't have a car, and this makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for a number of people to make alternative arrangements."