A MAJOR Southampton post office is to be taken over by a convenience store chain.

Primeco Ltd, owners of Spar shops, will start running Shirley's main post office in Shirley Avenue in January.

Post Office bosses have hailed the move, claiming it will safeguard the future of the branch.

They say it will still have all the products and facilities of a main post office - and also will open for longer on Saturdays and have an on-site shop selling newspapers and confectionery.

But union leaders have warned that franchising "can only lead to a worsening of the service".

The move comes as Royal Mail falls under serious financial pressure. Bosses took the decision to change the store's management following a six-week consultation.

Post Office spokesman Kevin Ray said: "The proposal to franchise our Shirley branch is fundamentally about securing the long-term future of main post office services in Shirley.

"I firmly believe that entering into a partnership will meet our aims and, with the added retail offering, the branch will go from strength to strength."

The Shirley store will be managed by a Post Office area manager and Primeco Ltd staff will be trained in issuing car tax, passports, pensions and stamps.

But Ray Pearce from the Communication Workers' Union dubbed the move "a loss to the public".

"We're concerned at this shift towards franchising post offices," he said.

"Where is it going next?

"It cuts down expenditure for Royal Mail but the bottom line for us is that the more actual post offices you lose, the worse the service becomes."

The changes are due to come into effect on January 24, 2005.