Residents have been left dismayed by the sudden closure of their local post office.

The Kemp Town Post Office in St George's Road, Brighton, stayed shut after the festive period despite promising business as usual in the New Year.

A sign on the door stated the branch would open on January 2. It didn't.

A handwritten note was displayed claiming the post office was closed for "technical reasons" but would open again on January 7.

Yesterday, however, the note was still on the door and the post office, in Garnet House, remained closed.

Frustrated customers, including many elderly people, gathered outside the post office, unable to collect their pensions and benefits. They were redirected to alternative post offices.

Those who rang the Post Office helpline were told managers had no idea when the branch might reopen.

Dan Flynn, who lives in St George's Road, said: "I came home from work early especially to renew my car tax at the post office and found it was shut."

It is less than two months since the Kemp Town Post Office was saved from closure when former staff member Julia Clarke took over the branch from retiring sub-postmistress Pat Bonner.

Miss Clarke, 26, initially took over the branch with a six month contract but said she hoped to make it a permanent arrangement.

Now Kemp Town councillors Gill Mitchell and Betsy Brewer have called on Post Office bosses to ensure the branch reopens with regular operating hours.

They said: "We are asking the Post Office to properly support the new staff and to ensure the branch is kept open during periods of training and sickness.

"Other branches are just too far away for many people, especially for the elderly and those with disabilities."

The St George's Road Post Office, at 66 St George's Road, is open for business as usual.

A spokesman for Consignia, which runs the Post Office, said the branch would stay closed until a new sub-postmaster was found.

Paul Simmonds, local retail line manager, said: "We appreciate how important it is for our customers to have easy access to our services and we are working closely with the community to give Kemp Town the best full-time post office possible."