Church may deliver salvation from post office closures

A post office could be opened in a church to replace those due to be lost in the forthcoming wave of closures.

Giles Fraser, vicar of St Mary's Church at Putney Bridge, is looking at running a service for customers who face losing sub-post offices in Lower Richmond Road and Putney Bridge Road. Under the plan, people could carry out transactions at the church's adjoining Brewer Building.

The Rev Fraser said: "The Brewer Building is equidistant between the two Putney closures and could provide some services - perhaps the 'Post Office Lite' that Post Office chiefs have been talking about."

Meanwhile, Wandsworth council has joined forces with the Covent Garden Market Authority to find a way to support the post office that serves the 300 companies based at the market.

In all, 22 post offices have been lost in Wandsworth over the past five years - half the borough's network.

Hammersmith and Fulham council is to open a post office in Barons Court library.