Hundreds of people in Eastbourne have signed petitions urging Post Office chiefs to prevent a threatened town centre branch from closing.

Opposition has been galvanised against plans to axe the Upperton Road branch.

More than 5,000 leaflets have been posted to addresses across Upperton and the town centre by Eastbourne Liberal Democrats.

And about 30 businesses have raised further petitions as they fear trade could slump without a post office nearby.

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

Bosses have said two alternative branches are based within half a mile of Upperton Road, in Terminus Road and Ocklynge Road, Old Town, and they have said continuing to run the branch would be unfeasible with the huge losses it is making.

But its customers are angry, saying it would be the second post office closure in Eastbourne within months, following the axing of the Whitley Road branch.

Users are also angry at the lack of consultation after Post Office chiefs set aside only four weeks for people to put forward their views.

On Saturday, campaigners gathered outside the threatened post office.

A further protest is planned this Saturday when campaigners aim to collect more signatures in a bid to force a rethink.

Liberal Democrat councillor Rob Slater said the Post Office was not listening, despite the consultation.

He said: "I discussed the plans with a representative of the Post Office but instead of listening to my objections, she informed me she was not interested in what I had to say on behalf of residents. This arrogant behaviour appears to demonstrate a lack of real concern to the views of local people.

"The question that must be asked is whether Post Office managers are really listening to the views of local people or are they just going through the motions?"

Eastbourne Tory MP Nigel Waterson expressed "amazement" at the proposed closure.

He said: "To those of us who regularly use it, it is the main post office in Eastbourne."