The planned closure of two post offices in Keighley has been condemned by town councillors.

Having been asked to comment on the potential closure of the post offices, councillors said they would oppose the proposals to shut Guard House Post Office, in West Lane, and Ingrow Post Office, at Ingrow Bridge.

A letter is to be sent to the Post Office and a special meeting of the council is being organised.

Cllr Allan Rhodes, pictured, said: "We had phone boxes at the last meeting and post offices now. There won't be much left shortly."

Councillors bemoaned the drop in service of the Post Office for the past few years.

Cllr John Philip, whose Laycock and Braithwaite Ward covers the Guard House outlet, rejected claims that the nearest other post offices were within easy walking distance.

He said: "This is actually them cutting back yet again and taking away part of our community.

"We lost a fish and chip shop but got that back again. How are we going to get a post office back again?"

And he described the proposals as preposterous.

Cllr Brian Hudson said the town should demand the post offices stay open.

And Cllr Bob Horrell, who said that many post offices in the town closed early in the afternoon, said: "I am not a great lover of the Post Office but I think the managers have lost the plot.

"The best thing that could have happened was the privatisation of the service."

Cllr Philip added that urgent action was needed.

"I don't want what happened to the special schools to happen to the post office," he said. "We got coy with that."

Following the announcement to close the two post offices, the Keighley News reported last week that customers also wanted them to stay open.

Regular customers want them to stay open because they use the offices for paying bills, collecting allowances and pensions, as well as sending letters and parcels.

The Post Office's area head, Eddie Herbert, said before the final decision was taken the views of local customers would be listened to.

And Postwatch -- the consumer watchdog for postal services -- has begun a consultation process to ensure customers' interests are considered.

The consultation will end on September 22. If approved, the closures would start in November.

To contact Postwatch call 0845 6013265 or write to Post Office Closures, FREEPOST, Postwatch.