28543/1A PENSIONER is rallying support for a one-day boycott of Tesco's Trowbridge store in protest at the supermarket chain's plans to close two west Wiltshire post offices.

Diana Griggs, 71, has organised a boycott of the County Way supermarket on Monday September 6, and is calling for a united front from west Wiltshire residents.

Tesco has caused a storm of protest over its plans to close two post offices when it takes over the One Stop shops in Brook Road, Trowbridge and Thornhill Road, Warminster.

Equestrian centre owner Mrs Griggs, of Bradford on Avon, said it was important not to let the post offices go without a fight.

"What annoys me about Tesco is they should put their money where their mouth is," she said.

"They are always on about how much they care for the community.

"They must make billions of pounds.

"They support the community alright but as long as it doesn't hit the pocket.

"This campaign does need someone to spearhead it but it should be someone with more energy than me.

"It is quite clear everyone we talk to is annoyed to think Tesco can do this and get away with it.

"People power is the only thing that can help in this instance."

Trowbridge Town Council has backed a campaign to save the post offices, calling for Tesco to apply for planning permission to extend the Brook Road store.

Tesco says it needs more space in both shops for goods, but Mrs Griggs said it is the stores' valued customers who will lose out in the long run.

"OAPs have a lot of spending power. It is about time we said enough is enough," she said.

"One lady who uses the Brook Road post office is in a nursing home and will have to stand and wait for a bus or pay for a taxi to get her pension."

A Tesco spokesman said the company has delayed the closure of the post offices by six months and has been looking for other premises close by where a post office could be housed.

Deputy Trowbridge mayor Tom James said: "I wish Mrs Griggs the best of luck.

"Tesco are not playing fair. They don't care about local communities but expect people to spend their hard-earned brass there.

"Nothing else seems to work so perhaps hitting them where it hurts, the pocket, is the only way."

l West Wiltshire campaigners have taken their protests to a national level with the launch of a website, linking them up to other groups across the country.

The website, www.everylittlehurts.org.uk, is geared towards forcing Tesco into a change of heart in its plans to axe community post offices from stores across the UK.