"If Miss Deborah dropped dead from shock at the idea of the railway encroaching on her picturesque 1840s village, then she’d certainly have a strong reaction to the news that Post Office Ltd are shutting Cranford Post Office," said North Wiltshire MP James Gray this morning.

"I and my constituents in the National Trust village of Lacock, the filming location for Cranford, were horrified to learn that Post Office bosses are announcing the closure of our Post Office tomorrow, along with many others in North Wiltshire. The excellent services provided by the village Post Office and stores are so vital for local residents, and although Post Office Ltd claims to be offering a six-week consultation period on the closures they are announcing, it is clear that community needs will take second place to cost-cutting."

"Like the town of Cranford currently being portrayed on Sunday nights, Lacock has a strong sense of community and over 200 residents rallied round to join me and Emma Hands, Lacock’s Sub-Postmistress, to protest at the weekend against the forthcoming closure."

"I was outraged to learn that Mrs Hands was effectively blackmailed by Post Office Ltd to prevent her blowing the whistle on the closure before the official announcement was made. She told me that she would face financial penalties for breaking the gagging order but she didn’t care - it was about free speech and they put in a very awkward position."

"I hope my constituents across Wiltshire will join me in writing to Post Office Ltd in protest at this and the other closures taking place. I have arranged a meeting with senior Post Office officials in Westminster tomorrow and will let them know my opposition to the closures in no uncertain terms. I will thereafter be campaigning hard on the issue."

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