The Thornhill branch will be replaced by an outreach service

The proposed closures include three post offices in rural Stirling which would be replaced by an outreach service from Kippen.

The plans will now be put out for public consultation until 3 December for customers to air their views.

Watchdog, Postwatch Scotland, said it had a number of concerns about plans.

Changes to postal services in Clackmannanshire will be announced in April 2008.

Churchills in Thornhill Road in Falkirk is among the 2,500 UK branches identified by Post Office Ltd bosses as unsustainable.

Furious villagers

Customers who use the branch have been lobbying local politicians to have the plans abandoned.

Closures of rural post office branches will result in more residents being isolated from services and will particularly affect vulnerable groups such as the elderly Corrie McChord Stirling Council leader

Of the 26 branches in Falkirk, six are earmarked for closure, including two in Bonnybridge and one in Denny.

In Stirling, post offices in Cultenhove, Callander and Riverside will go under the plans, with branches in Thornhill, Gargunnock and Buchlyvie to be replaced by an outreach service in Kippen.

Elaine Wilson, who works in Thornhill Post office, said villagers were "furious" at the decision.

She said: "We have been told that we will have to close the first week in February.

"That will be a real blow to our customers. We have a lot of OAPs who depend on us and for whom getting a bus to get their pension will be a nightmare.

"People are furious about it all and will fight to try and save the branch."

Online petition

Alan Alexander, chairman of Postwatch Scotland said: "We have a number of concerns about this current plan.

"Customers have six weeks to study the proposals and consider what the implications are for them and give their views to Post Office Ltd. We urge them to do this."

Stirling Council leader Corrie McChord also expressed misgivings about the impact the closures will have.

He said: "Closures of rural post office branches will result in more residents being isolated from services and will particularly affect vulnerable groups such as the elderly.

"In Gargunnock, the post office is part of the only shop in the village and we are concerned that the closure will threaten the economic viability of the whole business."

The local authority has now set up an online petition for customers wishing to protest at the closure plans.