ONE in five rural post offices has closed in the last eight years, the Royal Mail has admitted.

The steady decline of the network in the countryside has seen the equivalent of three branches shut every week.

In total, the number of rural post offices has fallen from 6,543 in 2000 to 5,158 by the end of last year.

In the last eight years, the rate of closures in villages has been steady with an annual fall of around 3 per cent.

However, in urban areas, the rate of closures has slowed, particularly since a major shake-up of the network in towns and cities in 2005 when more than 1,000 were shut.

A cost-cutting scheme saw 140 branches axed in Devon and Cornwall last year, but Royal Mail said the Network Change Programme was the first time it had taken a decision to close rural branches. Earlier closures were a result of sub-postmasters retiring or standing down and not being replaced, it said.

A House of Commons inquiry is investigating ways of ensuring the survival of those that remain, and has asked WMN readers to come forward with their views.

But in addition to branches shut by the Network Change Programme, many post offices – often linked to village shops – are still struggling to survive.

For example, in March, the village of Ide near Exeter will lose its post office and shop after the business fell victim to the recession. Sub-postmistress Kathy Strong blamed a slump in trade.

The Tories, who obtained the figures on closure rates, said there were serious consequences for isolated communities.

Shadow Environment Secretary Nick Herbert said: "Post offices often lie at the heart of rural communities and losses on this scale have been immensely damaging.

"Thousands more people are now more isolated without easy access to important services.

"The Government simply doesn't understand the value of this public service or how such changes harm rural areas."

The National Federation of Sub-Postmasters said the closures of recent years "have got to stop". Chairman George Thomson said: "When you close a post office, it rips the heart out of the local community."

Post office minister Pat McFadden insisted the Government was committed to protecting "vulnerable consumers in deprived urban, rural and remote areas".

Ministers have asked the business and enterprise committee to carry out an inquiry into what extra services could be offered.

Suggestions already floated include paying council tax bills, collecting parcels from delivery firms other than Royal Mail, accessing the Internet or being the venue for regular "surgeries" by local police officers, councillors and others.

The committee wants to hear from WMN readers after chairman Peter Luff said he knew "how important the post office is to people in the Westcountry".

If you have an idea on ways to improve the way branches operate, write to Post Office Inquiry, Newsdesk, Western Morning News, Derriford Business Park, Plymouth, PL6 5AA or e-mail mchorley@westernmorningnews.co.uk.