A UNION leader representing staff at two of Hampshire's flagship post offices which are due to close and be relocated to WH Smith is warning that the public will receive a poorer service.

Ray Pearce, of the Communication Workers' Union, representing nearly 40 staff at the post offices in the High Street, Southampton, and Middle Brook Street in Winchester, said his members had been left in the dark about the future of their jobs.

Job cuts He said: "People don't know if they are being transferred to WH Smith or whether jobs will be cut.

"The service won't be as good because I don't think the staff training will be as good.

"The closures mean the only post offices not franchised across the SO area are Romsey and Eastleigh."

Staff meetings will be held next month to see whether industrial action should be taken.

Nationally Royal Mail is transferring post office services to nearby WH Smith stores in a national move to create 70 so called Crown Post Offices' across the country.