The manager of a new Shrewsbury post office says he fears that managers could be lining up the branch for closure only a week after it opened.

Ravinder Garcha, who reinstated the former Gains Park Post Office at the Pensfold Shopping Centre last Tuesday, says he has been knocked back by Post Office officials after trying to secure a new cash machine for his shop.

He claims he has been told nothing can be guaranteed until the consultation on post office closures is completed and says he has genuine fears that it may be one of those branches that has to shut.

Mr Garcha has now issued a “use it or lose it” plea to customers as part of an attempt to keep the post office open and avoid job losses.

The businessman said: “I tried to get a cash machine in and I was told that the consultation for my area isn’t finished until June 9.

“Even though it has just opened it could potentially be closed and it is a bit of a worry for me.

“In the current state of affairs certain post offices are staying open because they are making big noises which is fair enough but the post office has got to make savings somewhere and I don’t want it to be mine.

“Having invested so much time, energy and money into it and taking on staff the last thing I want to do is to say to people I have got to let you go.

“I am now saying to people they must use it or lose it.”

Up to 2,500 post office branches across the country, including 28 in Shropshire, are facing the axe as managers of Post Office Ltd continue their consultation as part of a major cost-cutting exercise.

The old Gains Park Co-op and post office closed in May 2007.

The closure saw the loss of more than 20 jobs.

Mike Dalton, head of external relations at Post Office Ltd, has said no final decisions have been made as to which branches are to close.

He said it was important that in the remaining consultation period, which ends on June 9, people should make submissions, complete with facts and figures, to Post Office Ltd and PostWatch, showing why branches should not close.