Blaenau Gwent MP Llew Smith opposes the closures

As part of a programme announced in February, up to a third of Wales' 400 urban post offices are set to close in the next few years - a total of 33 have already been shut.

The Royal Mail have defended their closure proposals saying that many post offices are under-used and not generating enough money.

But those opposed to the plans say post offices are the focal point of many communities.

Blaenau Gwent MP Llew Smith proposed the post office closures as a subject for the House of Commons debate.

I actually get a lump in my throat thinking about closing Postmistress Elaine May

Together with his Welsh assembly colleague, Peter Law, Mr Smith has been fighting the planned closure of seven post offices in his own constituency.

Mr Smith, led a short debate in Parliament on the proposed closure of six post offices in Ebbw Vale and one in Tredegar.

'Devastating effect'

He told the Commons that the proposals were a further blow to a community devastated by the loss of steel jobs.

Mr Smith said the Post Office had "invented" public transport provision that had not existed for 16 years "to con" people to support their plans.

He also criticised PostWatch for their slowness in carrying out research as the consultation period over the closures comes to an end.

Responding to Mr Smith, Department of Trade and Industry minister Gerry Sutcliffe said he acknowledged "the importance of this debate, and the strength of feeling on this issue."

He said the Government was committed to a "nationwide post office service" especially for elderly people and those on benefits.

Referring to the seven Post Offices being closed in Blaenau Gwent, Mr Sutcliffe said post offices were too dependent on providing benefits payments.

'Consultation vital'

Mr Sutcliffe said the Post Office had lost �91m in the last six months and that some closures were inevitable.

Mr Sutcliffe added: "Post offices are important to our communities - consultation is vital for these communities.

"But it is also vital that people have right to choose how their benefits are paid - either through their bank account or over the counter."

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales before the debate, Llew Smith said that the closures would have a devastating effect on his constituency.

"It's going to have a devastating effect on our community because the people who most need the Post Office we've got in abundance in Ebbw Vale," he added.

"We've got some of the highest levels of disability, some of the worst health problems, some of the lowest incomes and some of the highest unemployment.

"The closure of the seven post offices is going to have a devastating effect."

No queues

On Monday, he brought a delegation of campaigners to the Welsh assembly where they met and were promised support, by the Welsh Secretary, Peter Hain.

The proposed closures in Blaenau Gwent are part of a programme of 150 closures across Wales.

Royal Mail say the increasing amounts of benefits are now being paid directly into bank accounts, meaning that fewer people use small post offices.

Elaine May, who is voluntarily finishing as a postmistress at Garnlydan in Ebbw Vale, said that the business was no longer viable due to changes in benefit payments.

She said: "We don't get queues any longer and afternoons are very quiet.

"I run it on my own, when I used to employ two staff.

"I may be losing as many as five or six transactions on every customer every week and I can't afford to do that.

"I actually get a lump in my throat thinking about it (closing).

"To pull the shutters down isn't going to be easy.

"These (the customers) are people I see on a daily basis."