The people of Castlefields will fight for their post office in a bid to ensure it is never earmarked for closure again, a public meeting heard. Dozens of people turned out to show support last night.

Councillor Alan Mosley, county councillor for Castlefields and Ditherington, chaired the meeting at the community hall. Also there were MP Daniel Kawczynski, borough councillors Jon Tandy and Stephen Williams and Peter Dunhill, chairman of Castlefields Action Team.

The meeting discussed the future of the New Park Road post office, which was set to be lost after Midcounties Co-operative announced it was closing it for financial reasons.

But residents were last night told the post office has been given a stay of execution. They decided they would back a campaign to promote the post office and secure its future.

Mr Mosley said: “Developments have taken place which mean the Co-op is extending its operation at the shop and the post office until its lease runs out in June.

“One of the factors involved in the change of heart has very much been because of their awareness of the strength of feeling within the community, the fact that this meeting was going to take place and because of the large number of people that have been in touch with them in the last few weeks.”

Mr Kawczynski told the meeting a postmaster from Telford was currently looking into the possibility of taking over the running of the post office.

He said: “We have two bidders bidding for the post office in Castlefields, I have been assured that this post office is viable and that is has a future.

“When these bidders are bidding they want to see a very healthy balance and in the long term we want to make sure we speak to friends, neighbours and relatives, if they do not use the post office urge them to start.”