A newsagent has explained why he wants to close his post office.

Raj Koria, who runs Alinora Post Office in St John's Parade, Goring, Worthing said: "I am retiring. I have been struggling with the newsagents and the post office so I am going to take it a bit more lightly now.

"Generally when I tell people I want to retire they appreciate it. My wife, son and his wife will continue to run the newsagents."

Worthing councillor David Marchant said: "It will be a sad loss to the local people and could well bring disaster to the shopping centre."

A Post Office spokeswoman said the branch was scheduled to close in October following a fall in customers and the desire of the postmaster to wind up the post office side of the business.

She said customers could use alternative post offices at 292 Goring Road, near the Mulberry pub, Goring, or at 112 George V Avenue in West Worthing.

But critics argue that many of the people using St John's Parade are elderly and its closure will cause them severe inconvenience.

Coun Marchant said: "The post office in George V Avenue is always busy and parking is atrocious. It is simply not user-friendly for people living south of Goring Road.

"The branch in Goring Road is quite small and not easy to get to."

Richard Waller, chairman of Goring Residents' Association, said: "We are against the closure of any post office. It is very convenient having a post office in Alinora Crescent."

Protesters have one month to send their views to the Post Office, which has already closed a branch in Broadwater Street East, Broadwater, Worthing.

There are also plans to close three post offices in Lancing, at Crabtree Lane, Cokeham, and 111 Sompting Road.

The Post Office spokeswoman warned further closures in Worthing might follow as the organisation "restructured and modernised its urban network".