THE end of an era is approaching in a Basingstoke suburb after a long-running sub-post office was given its date for closure.

Post Office Ltd has announced the branch in Worting Road will shut its doors to customers for the final time on Saturday, May 14.

Sub-postmaster Chris Hadlow has run the post office and shop for 20 years with wife Vivienne and daughter Sarah.

Mr Hadlow, 63, said: "It is very sad that it has to close but it's the way things are with the modern world - little local shops like this are being forced to close.

"We want it to close now because the post office trade has gone down so much. But it will be awkward for some of our older customers when it closes as they will find it hard to get to another post office."

He said that the Sainsbury's Local store, attached to the Shell Garage in Worting Road, has affected his shop's trade.

"The Sainsbury's Local opened last summer and, as soon as it did, we knew that we would have to close. It's taken away about 35 per cent of our shop trade."

Mr Hadlow and his family, who also live above the post office and shop, plan to sell the building and move to a different house in Basingstoke.

He said: "I'm close to retirement, so I will just look for a part-time job. I shall not miss the work but I will miss the customers."

A statement from Post Office Ltd said: "Post Office Ltd is restructuring its national network of more than 7,200 urban post offices as in many cities and towns there are too many offices competing for too little business.

"The aim is to safeguard access to Post Office services for all communities."

First published: Friday, April 15, 2005