Janet is the latest member of her family to have run the village post office and shop in Harley, near Rotherham, for the past 40 years.

Harley is one of six post offices in Rotherham earmarked for possible closure. The others are Salisbury Road in Maltby, Whinney Hill in Thrybergh, Toll Bar in Wortley Road, Kimberworth, St Ann's Road in the town centre, and Parkgate.

Janet, aged 49, said: "I knew we were on the closure list, but I was not able to tell anyone. I was dreading telling my customers.

"To be perfectly honest the post office is not as busy as it used to be, but this will still come as a blow to some of my customers. They will now have to travel the two miles to the nearest alternative offices in Wentworth and Chapeltown.

"Once upon a time we had queues of people waiting to be served. Now you can buy so many things such as postage stamps and TV licences, which you used to get at the post office, somewhere else. Younger people moving into the village don't seem to use it any more. We still have the shop, but I am sad that the post office side of the business may disappear. It has upset me."

Today it was revealed Post Office bosses have also agreed to meet Rotherham Council next month as part of the seven-week consultation exercise. The council is already fighting plans by BT to shut scores of public call boxes across Rotherham.

READ MORE

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