A task group has been set up to fight the closure of vital post office services in rural Breckland as the area's district council gears up its fight to save what branches it can.

A task group has been set up to fight the closure of vital post office services in rural Breckland as the area's district council gears up its fight to save what branches it can.

And on Tuesday Breckland Council's cabinet agreed to formally write to the post provider in the hope of coming up with ways Post Office services can be brought to rural areas which could lose their branches.

It comes as the Post Office plans to shut 2,500 of its 14,300 branches. A public consultation on the closures is due to start next month.

Breckland set up the task group to look at details of a survey carried out by the council to see which branches most needed saving.

It found 88pc of people felt their quality of life would be affected for the worse if they lost their local branch.

And a petition launched by the council at the same time to get the Government to stop post office closures received more than 600 signatures.

As well as looking to save Post Offices, cabinet members agreed to formally write to the company inviting it to work with Breckland on how to provide its services in the future in the district.

William Nunn, council leader, said: “The Post Office is a life line for many residents, particularly in rural areas and for elderly and disabled residents, young families and the many residents who will not be able to access an alternative branch.

“The local Post office is often in a village shop or other local business and so they are also important in terms of the rural economy.”

“The council notes the strength of public opinion in favour of saving the local Post Office and recognises the needs of the elderly, disabled and most disadvantaged, who rely on their local branch.”

Details of the council's survey is to be sent to Post watch and the Post Office.

The public consultation by the Post Office is due to begin on March 26 for Norfolk and west Suffolk.