A Norfolk MP is urging constituents to boycott two post offices this week in protest at plans to close them.Yarmouth MP Tony Wright wants people not to use the town's Northgate Street and Lichfield Road post offices in the hope of showing how inadequate the suggested alternative - the town centre branch within a WH Smith store - would be.

A Norfolk MP is urging constituents to boycott two post offices this week in protest at plans to close them.

Yarmouth MP Tony Wright wants people not to use the town's Northgate Street and Lichfield Road post offices in the hope of showing how inadequate the suggested alternative - the town centre branch within a WH Smith store - would be.

He believes that, if customers descended there in droves instead, it may force Post Office bosses to change their minds about closing the other sites as part of their controversial programme to shut 2,500 branches nationally.

Already there have been complaints that the one in WH Smith has large queues of people waiting in a cramped space. By urging even more customers to use it, Mr Wright hopes he will fire new shots in the battle to keep Northgate Street and Lichfield Road branches open.

He said: “The Post Office should be looking to expand instead of closing down branches. I hope that, if the

WH Smith post office cannot handle lots more customers, then it will be a very persuasive argument to keep the others open.”

About 1,500 customers use the Northgate Street branch each week, and if only a small percentage of them go to WH Smith it may cause problems at the central post office.

Jayne Nicholson, Northgate Street's sub-postmistress, said: “A lot of the people who come here are elderly and would find it hard if they were forced to go to the town centre if we close. And if we shut, other shops around here will definitely lose business and may face closing themselves.”

Eight post offices in the Yarmouth area have been earmarked for closure, and Mr Wright said he was well aware that it would probably not be possible to save most of them.

People have until June to register their objections or views on the proposals.

If you would like a Fight for Your Post Office poster contact Alex Lynch on 01603 772210, email alex.lynch@archant.co.uk or download one online at www.edp24.co.uk