THE voices of villagers campaigning to save their post offices reached the House of Commons.

The petitions, signed by hundreds of residents from Cholmondeley, Tilston and Threapwood, were presented by Eddisbury MP Stephen O’Brien (Con).

Keeping up the pressure on the Government, Mr O’Brien took the campaign to the House following the earlier presentation of petitions to 10 Downing Street.

Petitioners insist the value to the community of the services available at the three post offices is “vital” and must be maintained.

They asked the Commons to urge the Government and Post Office Ltd to retain the post offices at Cholmondeley, Tilston and Threapwood “and the full services that our post offices provide to local people and the most vulnerable groups in our communities.”

Residents argue the proposals should be withdrawn and there should be an “honest review” to examine how the long term future of the offices can be secured.

Mr O’Brien has previously visited the three offices when he met concerned residents, sub postmasters and sub postmistresses to discuss the Government proposals to slash services and opening hours.

“Hundreds of people from across our area have signed our petitions in support of the ‘Save Our Post Offices’ campaign,” said the MP.

“I would like to thank all the supporters of our campaign for their continuing and steadfast support in our efforts to save our post offices from these devastating and unnecessary cuts.”

He added: “Gordon Brown and his Government need to start listening to the thousands of people in Eddisbury and Cheshire, and indeed the millions across the country, who are calling for the withdrawal of these fundamentally flawed plans to slash services and close thousands of our local post offices.

“Support for Mr Brown is plunging for a reason.

“It is because he is repeatedly breaking his promises and refusing to listen to the common sense views of the vast majority of people in my constituency, Cheshire and Britain.

“Local residents know that our post offices are at the very heart of our communities and offer a vital lifeline to the vulnerable who rely on the services they offer.

“The Government must withdraw their flawed plans to ‘cut and shut’ our post offices immediately.

“Or will Gordon Brown be remembered as the grim reaper for rural communities across Cheshire and Britain?”