Concerns have been raised that elderly residents are set to lose out after Royal Mail announced two Spelthorne post offices would close.

Details of the post offices which will join the great sorting room in the sky were unveiled on Tuesday, January 29, and include the Woodthorpe Road, Ashford, and Nursery Road, Sunbury, branches.

Council leader John Packman, who is also ward councillor for Ashford Town, said: "It is this negative Government attitude that has left so many people high and dry, particularly the elderly who really need their post office.

"The major concern with Ashford is the main office has been closed for several months.

"We are pressing Royal Mail to reopen it as Ashford is Spelthorne's second main shopping centre and the impact of closure on the rest of area is a major concern."

Royal Mail had written to postmasters informing them of their fate last month but refused to make public which branches would face the chop until consulation began on Tuesday, January 29.

Das Kandiah, postmaster of the Ashford branch, branded the decision unacceptable as they were always busy.

He said: "I don't understand why they have closed us. We don't know what to do.

"We are in a very convenient location especially as there is no main post office in Ashford.

"We are asking everyone to help. Customers who come here cannot get to other branches. It is too far for pensioners to travel elsewhere."

Ward councillor for Sunbury East Caroline Nichols slammed the decision as a short-sighted.

Borough MP David Wilshire has promised to fight on behalf of the beleaguered postmasters and attacked the public consultation as "meaningless window dressing."

He said: "I will present Royal Mail with the petition signed by thousands of my constituents. I will also demand that, if public opinion is ignored and the Woodthorpe Road post office closes, closure must not take place until the promised new post office is opened in the centre of Ashford."

The family who run the Nursery Road branch said that if it was to close they would be badly affected and may have to move.