Threatened post offices in Sussex look set to be bailed out with council tax money.

Lewes District Council is already in talks with Post Office Ltd to save two branches, it has emerged.

And West Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council are considering financing branches facing the axe.

The leader of Lewes District Council, Ann De Vecchi, is now calling on East Sussex County Council to intervene in the closure programme.

Councillor De Vecchi said her council had set aside money in this year's budget to pay for the rent and business rates for Landport post office in Lewes and the Claremont Road branch in Seaford.

Post Office Ltd has temporarily withdrawn the branches from the at-risk list and is expected to make an announcement on the council's bid in the coming weeks.

Councillor De Vecchi said: "The county council should stump up the money for those post offices in the most deprived communities."

Essex County Council has also revealed plans to spend up to £18,000 a year subsidising each of its 15 branches facing the axe.

It hopes the £1.5 million investment over three years will lead to branches becoming self-sufficient.

Scores of councils are now considering following in Lewes and Essex's footsteps as 2,500 post offices face closure across the country.

Post Office Ltd has confirmed it is to shut 17 branches in West Sussex and six in Brighton and Hove.

Another 25 in West Sussex could also be axed.

Brian Oxley, the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "We are watching very closely to see what comes from Essex.

"If the post offices are not making money we have to think carefully about the costs."

Prakash Patel, the sub-postmaster at the Preston Road branch which is due to close on Monday, said: "It is a great idea but the council needs to act quickly.

"This post office is not making a loss but if you wait one or two years we will lose the business and rebuilding one takes a very long time."

West Sussex County Council is looking into whether new branches could be opened in its buildings such as libraries.

Council leader Henry Smith said: "We are continuing our campaign to Post Office Ltd to say it is a mistake that they are closing so many branches as they are key to the community but they seem determined to close a large swathe across our area."

In East Sussex, 18 post offices are to close while a further four are at risk.