A pensioner fighting to keep Bank Street post office open today trudged the uphill routes to Bradford's alternatives and and said it was "nonsense" they were viable options.

Jean Landowski, 77, said Post Office Ltd was "patronising" directing pensioners to Sunbridge Road and Darley Street offices, and failed to understand the problems of Bradford's streets,.

A leaflet displayed in the threatened Exchange office, urges people to go "0.17 miles on a pedestrianised incline to Darley Street" and cross two minor roads at Market Street and Godwin Street." It says there are 18 benches to sit on en route between the branches.

And it ways the Sunbridge Road branch is only "0.12 miles along a pedestrian incline with two minor roads to cross".

But Mrs Landowski of Lidget Green - a member of the campaign group Forum Focused on Pensioner Power - said: "The whole thing is a nonsense and these are very difficult routes for many pensioners to take."

She was out of breath by the time she had walked up the hill to the Darley Street branch.

She and other pedestrians found Market Street busy and difficult to cross and the second minor road, Godwin Street, was also being fairly heavy used by traffic.

She said: "There are benches, but they are low and it's difficult for many elderly people to stand up again once they've had a rest. They are the wrong height. Many people find Darley Street steep and I think a lot of people would find it a bit of a marathon."

She found uneven paving stones at the bottom of Sunbridge Road difficult to negotiate and believed high buildings surrounding it made the already-high winds sharper.

She said: "I use the post office at Bank Street at least once or twice a week because I have family living abroad and post things to them. It's a post office people absolutely can't do without. You simply couldn't describe the other branches as reasonable alternatives, even if people did manage to get there. It's the worst idea I have ever heard of." Keith Nathan, chief officer for Age Concern, Bradford District, said: "I would agree with everything that she says and more.

"There are also other aspects I am very concerned about. There is talk of expanding the other post offices but they are still going to have a lot less capacity than Bank Street. They are also taking the facilities away from the transport centre.

"I am also very concerned about the consultation procedure. There has been six weeks consultation during the holiday time. I am concerned about the whole way people are being forced to use banks for their pensions and there are many other aspects."

Mrs Landowski spoke out as the campaign to save the Exchange Post Office grew. The Communication Workers Union announced it had organised a second public meeting in St George's Hall between 1.30 and 3.30pm tomorrow. Regional official, Dave Walton, said he had already obtained about 3,000 signatures on a petition to save the Exchange and thousands of other signatures have also been obtained on petitions distributed by the Forum Focused on Pensioner Power which is opposing all 17 post office closures throughout the Bradford district.

Hundreds of Telegraph & Argus readers have also filled in coupons expressing their strong views about proposals to close the Exchange Post Office.

A spokesman from Post Watch, the post office watchdog, said: "There is now a massive response in Bradford. It is the biggest I have known. Apart from the petitions and coupons, there have been large numbers of telephone calls and letters."

A spokesman from Post Office Ltd said all views were being considered. The closing date for representations against the Exchange closure proposals is on September 28.