Nineteen Post Offices in Brighton and Hove face closure in the latest stage of a nationwide cull.

Post Office Ltd today revealed the hit list of threatened outlets, which face the axe as the company tries to tackle £100 million losses.

The latest branches on the list follow the closure of five counters in the city which have closed in the past six months.

In 2002, there were about 50 post offices in Brighton, Hove, Portslade and Southwick. If all the branches on today's list are shut, that figure would be halved.

Of the sub-post offices identified, five are in Hove, two in Portslade, two in Southwick and the remaining ten in Brighton.

The plans by Post Office Ltd have been condemned by MPs and consumers' group Postwatch.

David Lepper, Brighton Pavilion MP, said: "Often these decisions are made by looking at points on a map.

"I have warned the Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd they will have a fight on their hands over these proposed closures."

Ivor Caplin, MP for Hove, was angry the Mile Oak branch was earmarked for closure because it is in a growing area.

He said the branches in Sackville Road and New Town Road, also under threat, served densely populated estates.

Mr Caplin said: "I understand the Post Office needs to run a profitable business but it has to reflect whether cutting this number of branches will ensure an acceptable level of service for its customers in the area.

"I hope local residents will take advantage of the six-week consultation plan period that has now been opened and contact me."

Postwatch South East England chairman Dr David Bland said: "Postwatch wants to make sure people living in Brighton and Hove who are affected by the Post Office's plans to reinvent the network are made aware of the changes and have the chance to tell us if the Post Office has got it right.

"We want to make sure the branches remaining open are suitably located and provide fully adequate facilities for all their customers."

A spokeswoman for Post Office Ltd said she was unable to comment ahead of a formal announcement being made.

* The 19 branches suggested for closure are: Coombe Road, Brighton; St Georges Road, Brighton; Kemp Town, Brighton; Sutherland Road, Brighton; Carden Avenue, Brighton; Lewes Road North, Brighton; Mackie Avenue, Brighton; Terminus Road, Brighton; Valley Drive, Brighton; Fishersgate, Brighton; Manor Hall Road, Brighton; Windmill Parade, Brighton; Church Road, Hove; Church Road, Brighton; Kingsway, Hove; Mile Oak, Brighton; Newtown Road, Hove; Victoria Terrace, Hove; Sackville Road, Hove.

Thursday October 23, 2003