A SUFFOLK politician today joined the fight to save the county's rural post offices.

A SUFFOLK politician today joined the fight to save the county's rural post offices.

As well as writing to sub-postmasters, Stowmarket, Needham Market and Bury St Edmunds MP David Ruffley will be in Stowmarket on Saturday collecting signatures for a petition to save sub-post offices in his constituency.

Mr Ruffley said: “Our sub-post offices are the lifeblood of our villages and we must do all we can to preserve them.

“I would urge anyone interested in preserving our fine sub-post offices to come along and sign this very important petition.

“I have made behind-the-scenes investigations at Westminster and discovered that Post Office Ltd will begin their closure investigation in Suffolk in January 2008.

“This will include inspectors snooping around our part of Suffolk looking into local community services, bus and road links, local geography and population and employment patterns to see who uses which sub-post office.

“I have alerted all the sub-postmasters in my constituency and warned them that we must be on our guard - the fight to save our rural post offices begins now not when the changes are announced in March.”

A paper version of Mr Ruffley's petition has been distributed to all sub-postmasters and can be signed at sub-post offices.

Mr Ruffley will be at his stall outside Woolworths between 9am and 1pm.

It can also be signed online at www.telldavidruffleymp.com.

His petition calls on Post Office Ltd to retain the existing sub-post offices in his constituency.

What do you think of proposals to close post offices across the county? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveninstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk