A cross-party delegation will meet Post Office bosses for crisis talks about a threatened town centre branch in Eastbourne.

Thousands of people have signed petitions in protest at plans to shut the Upperton Road post office, which is one of the town's busiest branches.

Community leaders including Eastbourne Tory MP Nigel Waterson will meet Post Office bosses and officials from the watchdog Postwatch on Monday.

Eastbourne Borough Council Tory opposition leader Graham Marsden, Liberal Democrat cabinet member Jon Harris and officials from the Federation of Small Businesses will also attend.

Mr Waterson said: "The closure of what is in effect the main post office in Eastbourne would be a massive blow to elderly residents, businesses and the town as a whole.

"I hope the Post Office will be impressed with the depth of feeling in Eastbourne and agree to look at this again."

Campaigners have less than a fortnight before Post Office chiefs rule on the branch's future after just four weeks of public consultation.

Users have been angered at the short consultation period and have urged people to bombard Post Office bosses with letters.

The Post Office has said the branch may close in November to combat losses of £65,000 a year.

Bosses pointed out two alternative branches were based within half a mile of Upperton Road, in Terminus Road and Ocklynge Road, Old Town.

They said continuing to run the branch would not be feasible with the huge losses it was making.