There was standing room only at Brough Church Hall as village residents met to discuss the impending reduction in services at the village post office.

Representatives of the Post Office addressed a 120-strong gathering about the plan to place the Brough branch in its outreach scheme, meaning services will remain available for only three days a week.

Ailsa McKenzie, a retired residential care worker who has used the Brough post office for 30 years, said of the plan: "It will be a disaster. The post office is the centre of the community. A lot of people use it. Without it we will have to travel a long way."

Senior external relations manager for the Post Office, Julia Young, discussed alternatives to using the Brough branch, including Warcop and Crosby Garrett.

The suggestion that the latter could provide a viable alternative for Brough residents provoked loud laughter from the crowd, which also opposed Kirkby Stephen as a practical substitute, on the grounds that bus services were too infrequent.

Post Office network development manager Richard Lynds said: "Nobody wants to go down this route, least of all us. Brough is part of the outreach scheme, so post office services will still be available."

For the residents of Brough, however, three days a week was felt to be insufficient.

Brough resident Jane Chantler said the post office was essential for the running of her jewellery business.

"Ninety five per cent of my business goes through the post office. I'm in there twice a day and it's also my bank," she said.

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