A post office has been earmarked for closure because custom has dropped by a third.

Clayton Heights post office is one of 17 Bradford branches facing the axe after Post Office Ltd announced major restructuring.

Customer numbers have dwindled for months at the branch on Highgate. Councillor Michael Walls (Cons, Queens-bury) blames a new payment system.

He said: "The Government has brought about this situation by encouraging people to have their money paid into their banks.

"I spoke to staff when the closure was announced. They said they had lost 30 per cent of the customers in two years.

"So from that point of view it is not going to be financially viable.

"More money needs to go into keeping them open than closing them because it is a community facility.

"People come here to meet and, for a pensioner, it could be the only chance they get to talk to people all day."

Julie Craven, who manages a supported housing complex for people with head injuries on Ouzel Drive, Clayton Heights, said the closure would come as a blow to her residents.

She said: "It is an awful shame because it is going to stop them being independent.

"There are already so many things they cannot do but coming to the post office to pay bills makes them feel empowered."

Branches in Queensbury and Cooper Lane have been designated to replace Clayton Heights. Nobody from the branch was available for comment.

A public consultation will now be carried out. People objecting to the closure are asked to write to Eddie Herbert, Post Office Ltd, c/o National Consultation Team, PO Box 2060, Watford, WD18 8ZW before October 4.