MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition against a controversial decision to move Worcester's main post office to the first floor of a city centre store.

Worcester Conservatives have been collecting signatures, which will now be sent to the Post Office and the Department for Trade and Industry, calling for the plans to move the post office to WHSmith in High Street to be scrapped.

Robin Walker, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Worcester, said: "We could not have a clearer sign that people in Worcester reject the arguments put forward for moving the post office from its well located, purpose-built ground floor site, to the first floor of a crowded high street store.

"The thousand signatures that we have gathered in such a short space of time show that there is overwhelming support for keeping the post office open.

"This week a House of Commons select committee has pointed out that the government has gone about its programme of closures without proper consultation and without proper plans for protecting the viability of the offices that remain open.

"The Government seems to be attacking the Post Office from all directions, taking business away from it, closing major Crown post offices like ours, despite the fact they are always busy, and presiding over the closure of another 2,500 community post offices around the country, some of which are bound to be in Worcester." Mr Walker and fellow campaigners, including Sheila Clarke of the independent Worcester Older People's Forum, were flooded with offers of support for their petition on Saturday when they stood outside the Foregate Street post office for two hours. They signed up more than five people per minute, receiving a total of 615 signatures, to add to the 426 names already on the petition. The Foregate Street office is set to close in the next 18 months - ending 139 years of history.

It is one of 70 Crown branches nationwide being transferred into the High Street giant's stores.

A spokesman for the Post Office said: "Any petition will be recognised and acknowledged as part of the consultation process.

"However, it is important to emphasise that consultation focuses on the facilities and services being offered, and suggestions and comments that in particular address the development of these services will be most helpful in shaping any changes for the future.

"The decision to change the management to WHSmith is an in-principle decision, and is not in itself subject to consultation."