CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save scores of threatened post offices in East Anglia have voiced their outrage at news that the Royal Mail's chief executive has received a £3 million pay package.

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save scores of threatened post offices in East Anglia have voiced their outrage at news that the Royal Mail's chief executive has received a £3 million pay package.

Adam Crozier received the money in pay, pensions and incentives - despite the Royal Mail overseeing the closure of 2,500 post offices nationwide.

Up to 50 branches in Suffolk have either closed or remain under threat, while 30 in Essex were earmarked for closure before Essex County Council stepped in to save 20 of them.

Rosie Carter, who is leading the fight to save her local post office in Crown Street, Stowmarket, claimed it was a scandal.

She said: “I nearly choked when I heard this, it is unreal. They tell us they are closing branches to save money.

“The money could be used to keep a lot of post offices open. Campaigners are fuming about this, this is atrocious.”

Figures for the 2007/8 financial year showed that Mr Crozier's basic salary remained unchanged at £633,000, but this was increased to £843,000 because of an annual performance bonus and other benefits.

He also received £1.99 million for a long term incentive plan covering three years and a cash supplement in lieu of pension of £208,000, according to the report.

Royal Mail's chairman, Allan Leighton, whose pay and bonus remained at £200,000, said of Mr Crozier's salary: "The payment covers three years during which the group, led by Adam and the team, has consistently exceeded expectations and met all the targets set by the shareholder, and that's against a backdrop of a declining overall mails market, accelerating competition and a pension fund that consumes around £800 million a year in cash.'

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said: "Royal Mail has just claimed that it is in financial crisis, that employees are overpaid and is trying to reduce the pension benefits of its staff.

"At the same time as this, executive pay is completely out of control. This is an outrageous use of public money at a time when post offices and other Royal Mail offices are closing and postal services are being cut back.”