CIVIC leaders in Southampton have condemned plans to axe ten urban post offices in the city.

Members of both the Liberal Democrat and Labour groups joined forces to condemn the proposed closures at a meeting of full council.

City Council leader Councillor Adrian Vinson told members: "We are at risk of losing one of the few distinctive features of the local community.

"It is probably the only institution in this country which can claim to have a branch within no more than a mile of the local population."

Members of the council's Tory group abstained during the motion.

Councillor Gavin Dick and Councillor Jeremy Moulton told members that the city's Labour MPs had supported government plans to allow pensions and benefits to be paid into bank accounts directly - depriving many post offices of their income.

Cllr Moulton launched a broadside against John Denham, MP for Southampton Itchen. He said: "It is highly hypocritical for John Denham to campaign to save post offices in Southampton when he has voted for policies forcing them to close."

City Council Sheriff Councillor Edwina Cooke told members that she had been a postmistress for 30 years and had dealt with about 980 pensions a week.

Yet when she visited a similar sized post office to the one she had run recently, it was only dealing with 164 pensions a week - causing a drastic drop in income for the business.

Mr Denham denied the charge that he was being hypocritical.

He said: "There is no hypocrisy in saying the overall policy is right but we have every right to fight the details of the decision."

POST OFFICES FACING CLOSURE:

Bitterne Park branch, Manor Farm Road.

Merry Oak branch, Manor Road.

Sholing branch, South East Road.

Spring Road branch, Spring Road.

Station Road branch, Station Road.

Wide Lane branch, Westfield Corner, Wide Lane.

Freemantle branch, Park Road.

Shirley branch, Shirley Road.

Upper Shirley branch, 64 Wilton Road.

Wimpson branch, Wimpson Lane.