Wetherby MP Colin Burgon said branches in Wetherby, Deighton Bar, Boston Spa, Collingham, East Keswick, Thorner, Bramham, Scholes and Barwick will not shut under the Post Office's national restructuring scheme.

The news followed a meeting between MP Colin Burgon and senior representatives of the Post Office in West Yorkshire to discuss proposals on possible closures in the area.

But despite the good news, Mr Burgon is still urging Wetherby News readers who use Post Offices across the district to take part in a consultation exercise which begins on Tuesday.

He said: "I'm pleased at the outcome but we obviously need to clinch this victory.

"I urge people to write and say they support the proposal that post offices in the area say open. This will reaffirm the initial decision that all these post offices will remain open."

The news comes after it was revealed villagers in East Keswick were stepping up their fight to save their post office by putting up "use it or lose it" signs.

Residents signed an 800-name petition calling on the Post Office to keep its shop open.

Mr Burgon said: "I received a big petition from East Keswick. I would like to thank all the people who signed it because this strengthened my resolve to lobby ministers vigorously on this issue."

Mr Burgon said he thought the whole of the closure programme was totally flawed because it was based on market driven ideas.

He said: "Post Offices perform more than just a business function they perform a social function as well.

"They are key elements of small town and village life. This should be taken in to account and a subsidy should be paid if necessary."