PROTESTERS say they will fight on after just ten people attended a public meeting last night aimed at saving Whitebirk Post Office, Blackburn.

Jacqueline McGrew, chairman of Whitebirk and Intack Tenants and Residents' Association said she was disappointed by the response but would continue the battle.

The sub-post office in Burnley Road, Blackburn, is due to close in September as part of a Royal Mail shake-up.

Across the country 3,000 of 9,000 Post Office branches will be axed.

Post Office bosses aim to ensure that 95 per cent of the population live within one mile of a post office and that branches at Intack and Furthergate will remain open.

The Post Office has said the Whitebirk branch struggles to make a profit and does not justify more investment.

But Jacqueline believes closing the branch will make it impossible for local people to access Post Office services during bad weather.

She organised a petition and 135 residents said a public meeting should be called but only six attended, along with three committee members and ward councillor Tony Humphrys.

Jaqueline, 57, said: "I am very disappointed as they said they would come and have not turned up. But I am still convinced we can do something."

Coun Humphrys, representative for the Communications Workers' Union, said: "Royal Mail is publicly owned and is there to provide a service."