Five post offices have been earmarked for closure in the district, and more cuts could be on the way.

The closures are part of a plan to cut annual losses by the Post Office which have run into millions of pounds.

But MPs and councillors have called for a re-think by the company as they fear the closures would hit the vulnerable and elderly.

Offices in Keighley and Shipley face the axe but others in the rest of Bradford are also being considered.

The plans will be put out for consultation, but the post offices earmarked to be shut are Tong Park Post Office and Wood Bottom Post Office in Baildon; Bolton Woods Post Office, Shipley; Ingrow Post Office, Halifax Road, Keighley and Guard House Post Office, West Lane, Keighley.

Residents and councillors have already reacted angrily, saying it would rob them of vital community services.

Councillor John Briggs (Baildon, Liberal Democrat) has started a petition to save the two post offices on Otley Road.

He said: "Post offices are vital to the well-being of local communities.

"They are especially important to the more vulnerable members of our communities such as the elderly. To close one post office at the bottom of Baildon Hill is bad enough, but to close two is disastrous"

And Councillor Tony Miller (Windhill & Wrose, Lab) said the closures would have far-reaching consequences on an already disadvantaged community.

He said: "Post Offices Limited say there are several suitably-located post offices within the area, the nearest being Frizinghall, on Keighley Road and ASDA in Shipley, but if you are elderly or a lone parent with children they might as well be 100 miles away.

"If the closure went ahead it would leave the community of Bolton Woods not only without a post office but also without any shop of any description. The Post Office is putting profit before people."

Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie said: "I am worried about the ease of access for elderly and disabled customers, who may not find it convenient to get into Shipley town centre or up to the top of Baildon with the next nearest available post office.

"In particular the proposal to close the Tong Park branch could leave this part of Baildon a bit too isolated from Post Office services."

Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe said: "Clearly we will be looking at any proposals and there will be a period of time when we can oppose them if we want to. I will be making sure there is adequate provision for people. We have got to make sure vulnerable customers have access to post offices."

David Weatherall, who has run the Tong Park post office for nearly 25 years, said he viewed many of his customers as friends.

He said: "I will be sorry to see the post office close but it's one of those things. It is bound to happen these days because of the fall in customers we are experiencing, mainly because of people having their pensions put into their bank. We don't have any choice but to close."

There are presently 13 urban post offices in the Keighley area, and 15 in the Shipley area, and the Post Office said the proposed closures would ensure the viability of the remaining 23 branches.

Eddie Herbert, head of area, said: "Proposals to close post offices are not made without considerable research and discussion so we are anxious that customers and organisations understand why we consider it necessary to reduce the size of the network. The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business."

Betty Seeney, 63, from Bolton Hall Road, said she had her pension paid straight into her bank account, but that she would miss the convenience of the local post office for paying her gas and electric bills.

She said: "The next one is at ASDA in Shipley and it is a bus ride for anyone who lives round here, unless they have a car. There are getting fewer and fewer shops round there. That was the only shop we had left. We can't understand it."

Postwatch, the consumer watchdog for postal services, said it would be consulting with the Post Office over the plans during the consultation period, which ends on September 22.

A spokesman for Postwatch said: "There is no doubt that customers are affected when a post office closes. Postwatch's primary concern, however, is to ensure that customers' interests are properly considered before this or any other closure in the area takes place."

Post offices have already closed in Windhill, Shipley; Bradford Road, Moor End, Cleckheaton; Whitehall Road West, Hunsworth, Cleckheaton and Leeds Road, Ilkley.

Anyone who wishes to express their views on the proposed closures should write to the National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, Watford, WD18 8ZW.