Campaigners trying to save post offices from the axe are urging people to swamp the Prime Minister with letters of protest.

MPs have joined the protest by telling people to write a barrage of letters to the Post Office.

Eastbourne Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Stephen Lloyd has called on everyone in the town to write to Tony Blair following the announcement the main post office in Upperton Road was to close.

Mr Lloyd said: "The Post Office does not want to listen to us so we need to go straight to the top. If the Prime Minister is swamped by thousands of letters from residents who feel strongly about saving our post offices then we may still be able to persuade the Government to listen.

"I urge everyone to join me in writing to Tony Blair at the House of Commons, London SW1A, asking him to take personal action to stop our post offices closing.

"The Post Office recently announced a profit in the millions of pounds this year and I do not see why people should lose their branches."

Mr Lloyd said he would be in touch with everyone who signed an earlier petition against the closures, urging them to write to Mr Blair.

He said: "We need to show Eastbourne residents will not take this lying down."

The closure of the main Eastbourne branch is one of a series of cuts across Sussex announced by the Post Office in a bid to save money. In Brighton and Hove five branches face the axe, another five are facing closure in Mid Sussex and seven are expected to close in Worthing.

Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames said: "It is not a matter for the Prime Minister - it's for MPs and others to make their case to the Post Office."

David Lepper, MP for Brighton, said: "I'm urging people to write letters to Postwatch and the Post Office.

"People can make pleas to the Prime Minister and I'm sure he will be interested and concerned but the final decision will be made by the Post Office."