'End of an era...'

"However, I don't think it's going to make a lot of difference as Flookburgh post office is just over half a mile from here and that's what they're dwelling on. They prefer to keep that post office open."

Competition from another branch nearby also made the closure of Grange Fell post office predictable.

Sub-postmistress Pat Bernard said: "I'm not surprised we're on the closure list. We've only been open eight hours a week since 2005 and Grange post office is only a third of a mile away."

But not all the reaction to the closure announcement has been negative.

Sandra Stoker, who has run Endmoor post office from a front room of her home for 17 years, said: "Although the post office is being closed, we are very pleased for the local community that Post Office Ltd has decided to provide a mobile post office which will operate in the village hall for three mornings and one afternoon each week.

"This is much more than we envisaged because we only have a handful of regular customers and thought the new service would be two mornings a week. It will also provide more services than we are able to offer customers, such as road tax and passports.

"It is a satisfactory outcome. I was thinking about retiring and this has brought it forward - and it means we can have our dining room back and not have to move."

The situation is much more complex where village stores are run in conjunction with the threatened sub-post offices.

Debbie Harte, who currently runs Leven Valley post office alongside the village store, said: "It is very sad for the community and it might mean we will lose the shop as well because one business supports the other. Without the post office, the shop won't be viable."

Sub-postmistress Janet Willis, who has run Greenodd post office with the village store for five years, said she feared a similar outcome and is planning to hold a public meeting in the village hall next Wednesday to gauge the community's response.

"It will be difficult to keep the shop going, but I'm going to try," she said. "What I can't understand is why they want to do this when we are quite a busy post office. The decision seems to make no sense because it leaves a big area without a permanent post office."

Meanwhile, owners of Brough post office in the Eden Valley are asking their customers what services they want the remainder of the business to provide so it can survive.

Owner and sub-post mistress Pat Jones said: "We have a very loyal group of customers and we value their ideas on how we can expand our business to meet their needs.

"For the next four weeks the box will be on the shop counter for people to put their views on paper. It doesn't matter how crazy they may seem, we want to know what our customers and potential shoppers want, so we can plan for the future of our shop."

POST offices earmarked for closure in South Lakeland, Furness and Eden...

Anty Cross PO, Ruskin Ave, Dalton-in-Furness.

Bardsea PO, The Yews, Bardsea .

Beetham PO, Church Rd, Beetham.

Bolton PO, Bolton, Appleby-in-Westmorland.

Cark PO, Station Rd, Cark-in-Cartmel.

Grange Fell PO, Fell Cottages, Grange-over-Sands.

Heathwaite PO, Park Rd, Windermere.

Knock PO, Knock, Appleby-in-Westmorland.

Longpool, Wildman St, Kendal.

Melmerby PO, Melmerby nr Penrith.

Rawlinson St PO, Barrow-in-Furness.

Swarthmoor PO, Fox St, Swarthmoor.

Post offices proposed for replacement with an outreach' service..

Brough PO, Main St, Brough.

Dent PO, Main St, Dent.

Endmoor PO, Kendal.

Greenodd PO, Main St, Greenodd, Ulverston.

Hallbankgate PO, Hallbankgate, Brampton.

Leven Valley PO, Glendale, Backbarrow, Ulverston.