THE "most vulnerable" in society will suffer when Worcester's main post office transfers into WHSmith, according to a city campaigner.

Brian Hunt, of the Worc-estershire Pensioners Act-ion Group, turned up at the Guildhall to deliver a damning verdict on the decision.

He said the elderly were being "badly treated" because the post office plans to relocate on to the first floor of WHSmith in the High Street.

As we previously reported, the Post Office is moving from its Foregate Street office to save money.

Mr Hunt, speaking to post office bosses at a scrutiny meeting, said: "As a representative of pensioners, I am very disappointed in this move.

"Although I read that the post office says it has worked elsewhere, it will not be a success here, and is just another move towards the decimation of the post office. The service, as we grew up to know, is changing beyond belief.

"The pensioners being affected by this are the poorest members of society and I am very concerned.

"Siting it on the first floor, whether or not there is a lift, is not a good idea.

"The most vulnerable in our society are being badly treated."

When the move takes place some time in the next 15 months, it will mean eight service counters in operation rather than 12.

Craig Tuthill, senior manager at the Post Office, defended the move by saying it was vital to safeguard the future of the service. He also confirmed that the Worcester relocation would not lead to any compulsory redundancies.

Mr Tuthill said: "The post office network is losing £70m a year and we have very high overheads. These are big numbers and it's our job to turn it around. We are desperate to balance the books."