People using the branch in Main Street, North Sunderland, said the closure, if agreed after the consultation period, would be a miss to the community and cause hardship for elderly residents.

The branch was a regional winner in the best post office competition in 2003 and won a community award in 2006 for its work in setting up a lunch club for residents.

Coun Pat Scott, ward member on Northumberland County Council, said: "I am very disappointed that North Sunderland post office is on the list for closure as it has won national awards and is a very good branch.

"It is at the hub of the community in North Sunderland and and I will be working with others to make sure a review takes place if possible."

Subpostmistress Judith Herriott said she planned to retire this year and would not be fighting the closure.

Ann Sampy, 83, of Main Street, North Sunderland, said: "I don't agree with it because of all the old people in North Sunderland. It's difficult for me to walk down into Seahouses and I will miss meeting all the people."

Richard Whitlock, 65, of Main Street, North Sunderland said: "For us it is fine at the moment to get to Seahouses but as the population continues to age it's going to be increasingly dificult for people to access the service.

"They refer to it as the people's post office but the service is being reduced if not being taken away."

Stewart Falconer, 61, owns a holiday home opposite the branch. He said: "It's a real shame. It's a very busy little post office, you see people going back and forwards the whole time."

Billy Wright, of Southfield Avenue, Seahouses, said: "It's absolutely shocking and going to affect the older people who are going to have to walk down to Seahouses. We use it quite regularly for sending packages."

Ann Robinson, 72, of Islestone Drive, North Sunderland, said: "If Judith wanted to keep it then I would fight tooth and nail to save it. However, we have got a lot of new houses and the whole of this end of the village is expanding."

Mrs Herriott, who has run the post office for 18 years, said: "The customers are devastated because at this end of the village people rely on the shop and post office. It's a sad way to go but if they hadn't done this, I would have had to sell up."

The nearest post office is at Seahouses, half a mile away.