AS THE official deadline for appeals against the loss of six Macclesfield post offices looms, pressure is mounting to act before the "hearts of the community" stop beating.

More and more residents, businesses and local communities are standing up against the Post Office and urging Maxonians to join them in their campaign to save their local – whether in Sutton, Bollington, Broken Cross, Gawsworth, Bollinbook or Poynton – before Monday, July 21.

Broken Cross postmaster Alan White, 44, has the support of the community who turned out in force last week to meet Sir Nicholas Winterton and urge the MP to help save the award-winning office.

Alan, along with 100 customers, presented Sir Nick with over 350 letters he had collected from shoppers.

He said: "I have over 300 letters here from people who have taken the time to write down how they feel – that’s worth 5,000 signatures on a petition."

Sir Nick pledged his support for all the post offices under threat.

He said: "What we’ve got to do is make a case as to why each post office should not be closed. They all have individual merits, Alan’s post office is profitable, others serve communities other than the immediate area.

"People are very, very angry that the important facilities are being closed and we all have to stand together to make a case for them to stay. It just goes to show that so many people found the time to come here and tell me how losing this post office would affect them."

Among the protesters were businesses such as Alcock and Smalley Solicitors, who use the branch every day, and Peter Ayriss, who relies on the post office to send his Ebay sales.

He said: "It’s the type of service that everyone relies on – how can anyone say it isn’t worth saving?"

A six-week consultation began at the start of the month, and this is the time for the public to prove to the Post Office bosses that they have made the wrong decisions here in Macclesfield.

HOW CAN I HELP?

Write to: Richard Lynds, Network Development Manager, c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM, email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk or call the customer helpline on 08457 223344. Alternatively, fill in the slip in the current Express and send it to the above address or drop it into our office on Chestergate and we will be happy to send it for you. Or pop into one of the post offices and ask to sign their petitions.