NEARLY a fifth of Dorset's post offices could close following a Government announcement on the network's future, campaigners fear.

Alistair Darling, Secre-tary of State for Trade and Industry, has announced plans to close about 2,500 post offices across the country by 2009 because of rising losses and fewer people using the network.

He told MPs that the cuts were needed because of losses of £4m a week, twice as much as in the previous year.

But Dorset Community Action, which has been campaigning to save rural post offices, fears that the county's network of 122 could be cut to less than 100 if the closures go ahead.

Simon Thompson, community fieldworker with the independent charity, said: "Yesterday's statement by the Secretary of State will cause eventual suffering to Dorset's most isolated and vulnerable people when their local post offices are forced to shut.

"We have 122 post offices in rural Dorset, but that is likely to fall to less than 100 as a result of the announcement."

He said more than 2,000 people signed the DCA's petition calling on the Government to carry on funding rural post offices in Dorset.

"The petition warned of disastrous effects in terms of post office closures, village shops being forced to shut and the community's most vulnerable people left with no service and a vital hub of community life lost forever.

"Even though Mr Darling appears to be extending the £150m subsidy for another five years, there is a clear intention to close smaller village branches leaving many people miles from their nearest post office," said Mr Thompson.

Conservative MEP for Dorset Neil Parish said the Government was trying to blame members of the public for the possible closures.

He said: "Labour is attempting to pass the blame to the public for not using the post office but it is the Govern-ment that should shoulder most of the blame for nearly a decade of stripping the post office of its key services.

"The loss of post offices will have a devastating impact on many rural areas."

Further information about the campaign to save Dorset's post offices is available from Dorset Community Action's website at www.dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk.