Ref. 71887-54A FORMER regimental sergeant major has issued a war cry to pensioners to back our campaign to save three under-fire post offices.

Mal Toms, 67, insists the branches in Oxford Road, Clifton Street and Ferndale Road, are lifelines and should not be axed as part of Post Office cut backs.

The ex-jungle warfare instructor, who lives with wife, Lily, 64, in Whitelands Road, Stratton St Margaret, is a regular user of the Oxford Road branch.

And he said closure would spell disaster for scores of pensioners himself included who rely on the branch to meet people and draw weekly pensions.

He said: "I protest in the strongest possible terms. The other branches that the Post Office refer to may be suitable for their cost-cutting exercise but not for the poor unfortunate residents at our location a large section of which are pensioners and disabled people."

Mr Toms, who served with the 4th Queens Own Hussars, struggles with a hernia and his wife suffers from both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

They say travelling to the next nearest branch in Covingham Square just half a mile away would be unthinkable.

Mr Toms said: "My wife has two artificial knees and a false hip.

"She can walk a short distance but for longer journeys she requires the use of a wheelchair.

"We live fairly close to the Oxford Road branch and if I am unable to collect my wife's pension and disablement benefit, she can in her wheelchair reach the post office.

"She is unable, without great difficulty, to board a bus. Even if she was, it is still a minimum of 250 yards away from the bus stop at the Covingham end.

"If we have to travel by bus or car this would involve extra expense."

Mr Toms is adamant that a new lease of life can be given to post offices if bosses give them a chance.

He added: "The revenue from recently installed cash point machines will undoubtedly increase as more people become aware that they are operating now.

"Location is of tremendous importance to the local population and is presumably why the branches were sited in these positions in the first place."

l Are you planning a protest? The Evening Advertiser has posters, flyers and banners ready for deployment. Just give us a call on 01793 501798 and we'll send a photographer to snap it. Together, we hope to send a start message to the decision-makers.

Kevin Shoesmith