POST Office bosses were today sounding the death knell for 16 more branches in Suffolk today after deciding to ignore campaigners' arguments.

POST Office bosses were today sounding the death knell for 16 more branches in Suffolk today after deciding to ignore campaigners' arguments.

Furious MPs said the decision to axe the post offices - bringing the total loss to the county to 49 - was “devastating” for rural Suffolk and branded the consultation process “a disgrace”.

None of the branches that were threatened with closure will be saved - despite fierce campaigns from local people.

It means that post offices at Combs Ford and Crown Street in Stowmarket, and Old Newton will be among those to be shut.

The branches at Wattisham Airfield and Gislingham, near Eye, will be replaced by outreach services.

The closures come after 33 branches in east Suffolk were closed last year, with a further 16 replaced by outreach services.

David Ruffley, MP for Bury St Edmunds, said: “This is a devastating decision for rural Suffolk. “Campaigners have worked really hard to challenge Post Office Ltd on their closure proposals and have put together excellent cases against these closures.

“I share my constituents' shock and anger that the arguments they put forward appear to have been ignored.

“It will be a particularly devastating blow for elderly and disabled people and those without transport who rely on their local post office.

“These post office closures will rip the heart out of local communities which need more local services, not fewer.

“I will be studying the decision document very closely to see if any of these decisions can be challenged.”