Tax office workers in Dereham set to see their office shut met councillors from the town on Monday. About 30 people work at the HM Revenue and Customs office in Church Street, a tax office since 1938.

Tax office workers in Dereham set to see their office shut met councillors from the town on Monday.

About 30 people work at the HM Revenue and Customs office in Church Street, a tax office since 1938.

But last week government officials announced it could close, along with a number of other tax offices in Norfolk, as part of a national reorganisation.

Public and Commercial Services Union representatives from the Dereham branch met Labour councillors Michael Fanthorpe and Robin Goreham.

Mr Fanthorpe said: “The closure of the Tax Office would mean the loss of a valuable Government service for the people of Dereham and district.

“It is hard to understand the logic of HMRC as re-locating employees to Norwich would inevitably mean having to pay far more expensive rents for similar accommodation. We must fight this closure, tooth and nail.”

Mr Goreham said: “The Breckland Labour Group will be supporting our colleagues in the PCS Union. Dereham cannot afford to lose a service which helps between 10, 000 and 11,000 people every year.

“We are cautiously optimistic that our colleagues in Breckland and Dereham Town councils, as well as the local MP, will support this campaign.”

HM Revenues and Customs has said towns with an office would still have a point of contact for people, perhaps in another location in the town.

But union members say this would not offer anywhere near the service of what is currently offered.

The nearest branch would be in Norwich.

The reorganisation comes after the merger of Customs and Excise with the Inland Revenue, the government has said.