Reforms to the UK's sub post offices are threatening a local service that is vital to pensioners and vulnerable people, Conservative trade spokesman John Whittingdale has said.

This is not a political issue, a business issue of even a local issue

John Whittingdale Tory trade spokesman

Mr Whittingdale welcomed the "broad coalition" of organisations opposed to the removal of counter benefit payments.

The postal service is under pressure to cut costs across the board, with the Royal Mail racking up record losses earlier this year.

'Deafening silence'

Mr Whittingdale is to hand a petition to the department of trade and industry calling for a re-think on the benefit plan.

He said: "The local village post office lies at the heart of the community.

"Many elderly and vulnerable people rely on their sub post office to draw their benefit payments.

"There is less than nine months to go before the removal of counter benefit payments, yet there is a deafening silence about what the government intends to do to prevent the post office network being destroyed as a result."

Inevitable change?

A spokesman for Help the Aged said the post office was often a focal point of the community for the elderly.

whether on the village green, on the high street or in the middle of a council estate.

Mr Whittingdale is handing in a petition

"Many changes in the way they operate are perhaps inevitable, with the introduction of new electronic systems, but their contributions to society must be recognised and valued," he said.

Colin Baker, general secretary of the national federation of sub postmasters urged "everyone to use their local post office"

'Stand together'

"We all need to stand together to ensure that there remains a strong, healthy network of post offices in the future."

Mr Whittingdale added: "This is not a political issue, a business issue of even a local issue.

"The survival of our sub post offices is vital for the pensioners and benefit recipients who rely on them to get cash," he said.

It was also vital for the "thousands of dedicated small businessmen and women for whom they provide a livelihood and for the isolated rural communities in which they lie at the very heart," he added.