An MP has joined a campaign to save the Post Office card account.

David Lepper, Brighton Pavilion Labour MP, backs a call by London Labour MP Clive Efford for the Department of Work and Pensions to change its mind about ending the card account.

Hundreds of elderly people in Brighton and Hove, who don't have bank accounts, use card account to receive pensions.

There are fears over what will happen to them and how small post offices will stay afloat once the card account contract ends in 2010. Mr Lepper said: "I've always thought that the government should be doing more to publicise and promote this easy system.

"Over the last 18 months I've been trying to persuade the Department for Work and Pensions to allow the Post Office card account to be used for housing allowance payments the replacement for housing benefit for private sector tenants.

"There is a real problem for many people who have difficulties in opening the basic bank accounts they need to receive these payments."

He said ending the card account, just when it should be promoted, could threaten existing post offices.

A motion by Mr Efford, calling on the Secretary of State to recognise that sub-post offices are a vital part of many communities and to withdraw the decision to end the card account, has been signed by Mr Lepper and 54 other MPs.