Council taxpayers could be asked to part with their cash to save their local post office.

The Hastings Old Town branch is rumoured to be losing about £1,000 a year.

Council chiefs have said if this figure is correct, they will look at subsidising the branch to ensure its survival.

Hastings Borough Council leader Peter Pragnell said: "I want to know if they will really close a post office for the sake of £1,000.

"I'm not going to commit tax payers' money on the basis of hearsay. But, I want to know more to find out what the financial position is."

The branch was listed among 49 earmarked for closure in Sussex last year as part of a nationwide programme of closures to save money. Eight were given a temporary stay of execution while further negotiations were carried out between Government watchdog Postwatch and the Post Office.

Leaders of the three major political parties have sent a letter to the Royal Mail inviting representatives to discuss the Old Street branch's finances.

Coun Pragnell said: "This figure of £1,000 came out of a House of Commons debate. It might be they are losing that amount one year but what about the next? We are not committing to anything until we know exactly how much we are talking about."

The manager of the Hastings Old Town post office, who did not wish to be named, said: "To be honest the way politicians have been with us, I really couldn't comment on the proposal. In general, the whole shebang has just been one big farce."

Coun Pragnell said he believed the Post Office had now agreed to close seven of the branches undergoing further discussions in Eastbourne, Bexhill, Lewes and Horsham. But discussions about the Hastings branch were ongoing.

The Post Office refused to confirm or deny this.

The attempt to save the Old Town branch follows the news that Brighton and Hove City Council, West Sussex County Council and Lewes District Council were looking at ways of subsidising endangered post offices.

The Post Office is negotiating over proposals to shut down a further 21 branches in West Sussex as part of a second wave of closures linked with Berkshire and Surrey.

Hastings and Rye Labour MP Michael Foster recently voted against a Commons motion to suspend any further post office closures.

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