THE Post Office is under fire from a Gwent politician angered by plans to dramatically cut the region's postal network.

Last week Post Office Ltd announced plans to close 16 post offices across Gwent, saying there are too many post offices competing for too few customers.

Of the 16 proposed closures, seven are in Blaenau Gwent.

The Badminton, Beaufort Hill, Garnlydan, Rassau, Waunlwyd, Willowtown and Cefyn Golau post offices are all earmarked for closure as early as next February.

But local AM Peter Law says such a cut is unacceptable.

He said: "I cannot believe that a public body like the Post Office should propose to further deprive excluded communities within Blaenau Gwent of a service that they have enjoyed for decades and which is vitally important to the fabric of those local communities where the loss of this service will lead to great hardship."

Local councillor Brian Scully has also condemned plans, saying: "The proposals show a complete and callous disregard for ordinary people."

This latest round of closures follows a period of consultation with subpostmasters across the country who were asked about their wishes for the future. The proposals are now to be subject to public consultation.

Vincent Williams, of Badminton Grove Post Office, Ebbw Vale, said he decided to opt for closure because his business was becoming "unsustainable".

He said: "Although many pensioners have remained loyal, since automatic payments were introduced we have lost up to 60 per cent of our younger customers."

But Mr Law says he will oppose the plans and is calling on people to support him: "I am not prepared to accept our communities being denuded of these important public services and I look forward to statutory and voluntary organisations joining me to oppose these damaging proposals."