A couple from Keighley say government plans to change the way benefits are paid could sound the death knell for sub post offices like their own.

Tony and Pearl Prior, who run Guard House Post Office, say that if the government is successful in introducing plans to pay benefits and pensions directly into bank accounts, businesses like theirs will be forced to shut up shop.

Tony says: "If the government pushes this through we will go because more than 50 per cent of our business is through pensions and benefits.

"A lot of older people in the community rely on the post office and a lot prefer to collect their pensions directly because they don't trust bank accounts.

"If we do close down, old ladies will have to go down into Keighley to draw their money from the bank - it will be a muggers paradise.

"People also use us for other services like paying their bills and sending parcels so they would also lose that if we had to close."

In the space of just two days the couple has collected more than 250 signatures on a petition that will be sent to prime minister Tony Blair, urging him to rethink the government's position.

The post office also has the backing of local community members keen to see it remain a going concern.

Chairman of Braithwaite Senior Citizens' Mick Westerman says: "A lot of pensioners use the the post office for their pensions so it will be a big blow for them and everyone else who uses it. There are going to be massive queues at the bank and people just won't bother going, especially in winter."

The post office bill has been introduced by Secretary of State for Social Security Alistair Darling.

If it is passed through parliament, a system will be installed whereby all benefits will be paid by Automatic Credit Transfer by 2003.

A spokesman for the post office says: "The benefits agency has taken the decision to switch to paying money straight into people's accounts to combat fraud. We are not against this consideration in principle, but we are doing everything we can to ensure that other services are brought into the post office network.

"We are working hard on a number of initiatives to do that and we are working with the banking industry in a bid to extend banking services."

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