A campaign to save an Otley post office has failed despite strong opposition to its closure.

The news that Westbourne Park Post Office, on Bradford Road, will close on January 22 has angered many local people who say it is a vital local facility.

Post Office Ltd have taken the decision to close the branch in the face of fierce public opposition against the proposal.

Many protestors have claimed the closure was already a fait accompli, and yesterday the consultation exercise was branded a sham by some of those opposed to the closure.

But the company claims it is necessary to shut 11 urban post offices, including Westbourne Park, in order to ensure the viability of the remaining 43 post offices in the constituencies of Leeds North West, Leeds West and Pudsey.

The proposal drew widespread condemnation from councillors when it was first mooted, and Otley's mayor Coun Jonathon Kirkland objected by letter "in the strongest possible terms."

He argued that residents, particularly the elderly relied on the Westbourne Park branch for essential services.

But despite the level of opposition the decision has now been made to go ahead with the closure which is scheduled for January 22.

And it has angered many people, including the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Leeds North West George Lee.

"The decision by the Post Office and the manner in which they have announced it confirms what I have said all along -- that the consultation process was a sham," he said.

Mr Lee branded the company's behaviour as "contemptuous" and said they had declined to attend a public meeting and had given no response to a letter he had sent to them about the proposed closures.

The consultation exercise was also branded a sham by Coun John Eveleigh, the chairman of Otley Action for Older people.

He accused the Post office of "going through the motions" in talking to local people.

"It is very disappointing and I think it is particularly disappointing for elderly residents in that neck of the woods," he said.

But he said people already accepted that Westbourne Park would close despite the fact that a consultation exercise was being carried out.

The company's head of area, David Mellows Facer said: "We received a number of representations and petitions and meetings have also been held.

"The main concerns were about the effect of the closures on elderly customers and about the convenience of nearby alternative branches."

He stressed: "Proposals to close post offices are not made without considerable research and discussion -- our aim is to safeguard access to a post office for all communities.

"The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business."