A DECISION not to close Broadoak Post Office is being hailed a "victory for people power".

Campaigners led by Ashton MP David Heyes have triumphed following a three-month battle to stop the closure of the popular post office.

Despite a hard-fought campaign over the summer, five post offices in Tameside were axed.

But Post Office chiefs then announced a sixth branch — Broadoak — would face the chop.

Postmaster Hitesh Parekh, who has run the branch in Broadoak Crescent for 12 years, was left devastated by the news. Hundreds lodged objections to the ‘ludicrous’ plan.

Following the outcry, independent watchdog Postwatch asked Post Office bosses to look again at the proposal.

Now they have agreed to scrap the plan, admitting a lack of public transport to neighbouring post offices would force the majority to use the main Ashton branch in WH Smith, which already suffers lengthy queues.

A spokesman said: "The availability of public transport services suggested that a disproportionate number of customers from the area would choose to use the Ashton branch. This could cause capacity and service issues there at peak times."

Mr Parekh, 52, said: "The closure news came as a shock and I didn’t hold out much hope for survival. But the campaign was superb. This is a victory for the community."

Mr Heyes added: "It was this real show of people power that helped us to keep the pressure on Post Office managers to review their proposal and not proceed with the closure."

Councillor Alan Whitehead added: "More than 1,000 people and businesses backed the campaign."