A MOVE to turn rural post offices into makeshift police stations will not be getting the stamp of approval in Lancashire.

A six-month pilot scheme operating in Norfolk is allowing residents to report crimes, produce driving documents or pay fines whilst posting their letters.

It is even suggested that people on bail could report to their local post office rather than to a police station.

The role of the community bobby could be passed to postmasters and mistresses countrywide if the scheme proves a success.

But postmaster Ken Hayward , 53, at Holden Street post office, Belthorn, said he would not want to do that from his post office.

He said: "It is not a suitable place to do this sort of thing and it is not something I would do here.

"What would happen if there was any trouble, the place for it is the police station. I would not be happy about it.

"Post offices are too public and the basis of our trade is pensioners picking up their pensions. They wouldn't feel safe with potential 'crooks' in the queue next to them."

Steve Edwards, Lancashire chairman of the Police Federation echoed the bleak warnings and said he would not welcome such a scheme in Lancashire.

Mr Edwards said: "I am nervous about this idea. How can these people decide police matters?

"And will they be vetted to a high standard. Vital decisions would be left to them. It is open to corruption."

Former Metropolitan Police divisional commander Kevin Dalaney said it would be a bad move for improving people's perceptions of the police.

He said: "This diminishes yet another chance for the police to deal directly with the public.

"People want to see more policemen around not less, it simply takes away another opportunity for the public to feel physically supported by them.

"The days are gone when seeing a policeman or a police car meant safety to people -- now it only seems to mean there is trouble around."

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "We await with interest the result of the Norfolk trials and when these are known we will be able to see if such a system would be suitable in Lancashire."