SEVERAL Dorset Jobcentre Plus offices are facing closure.

Centres in Dorchester, Wareham, Shaftesbury and Wimborne are among five outlets under review.

No definite decision has been taken yet, but a six-week consultation period is being held - including talks with the public and MPs.

West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin said today that he believed the Dorchester office faced a serious risk of closure.

He added: "I am very sceptical about whether my constituents in Dorchester are going to be well served if they have to go to Weymouth whenever they need to deal with a job centre.

"It is important to keep Dorchester Jobcentre because Weymouth's level of expertise for the county town would not be as great nor, inevitably, would their knowledge.

"I will be meeting union representatives in the next few weeks to discuss the situation and I am also planning to talk to the Jobcentre organisation about their plans once this has happened."

Dorchester Chamber of Commerce president Alistair Chisholm also condemned any closure.

He said: "It is crazy, ludicrous to close it. You have to make it as easy as possible for people to get a job and so you have got to have a place locally.

"Dorchester is growing so it makes even less sense to consider closing the job centre here.

"We should not let the Dorchester offices close without one hell of a fight."

A spokesman for the Department of Work and pensions confirmed that the Dorset sites were under review.

The spokesman added: "Jobcentre Plus is currently reviewing the services it provides in some of its offices in Dorset.

"This is to ensure that local people receive the fullest service that Jobcentre Plus can provide while taxpayers get the best value for money.

"Customers, local MPs, councillors and other stakeholders are being consulted on all available options and, before any final decision is made, all views will be taken into account.

"The consultation period will last six weeks and if customers have views they should contact their local Jobcentre Plus.

"Any staff affected will be redeployed to nearby jobcentres."