MPs today braced themselves for the latest round of sub post office closures in Brighton and Hove.

The Post Office was expected to announce details despite meetings yesterday at which David Lepper and Ivor Caplin voiced their concerns over the future of postal services in the city.

They were seeking reassurances that changes under way at the main post office in Ship Street, Brighton, would not affect services or access, as well as discussing the future of the city's sub post offices.

After the hour-long Westminster meeting, Mr Lepper said: "On the basis of what I have been told, I am reassured about Ship Street.

"However, I am unhappy about what I have heard about sub-post offices, particularly in my constituency, and the scale of what is proposed."

Earlier this month, The Argus revealed the Royal Mail Group was selling off its flagship Brighton office, a Grade II listed building.

The Post Office said work was already under way to develop a new post office on the corner site of the same building.

The disposal of the historic site followed a string of sub post office closures across the city which caused an outcry among customers and MPs.

None of the city's MPs had been informed about the changes to Brighton's main post office. The lack of consultation angered Mr Lepper and his colleagues.

In response, Post Office chiefs agreed to keep them informed about proposed closures and extend the consultation period before shutting an office.

Tomorrow Mr Lepper is due to meet David Bland, chairman of the South-East region of watchdog Postwatch.

In April, the Government confirmed 3,000 of the UK's 9,005 urban sub post offices would have to close in a cost-cutting exercise.

Across Sussex, 80 urban post offices are at risk.

Wednesday October 22, 2003