By Declan Carey and Greta Simpson

A Greater Manchester village could lose "vital" services when its Post Office closes later this month.

The branch in High Lane in Stockport is due to close on September 19 after the postmaster resigned, leaving residents worried about having to travel to send letters and withdraw cash.

It has sparked anger among locals who say they will have to travel for at least half an hour by public transport to reach the nearest branches in Hazel Grove or Disley.

Anne, who's retired and lives near the High Lane branch, said she would be "lost" without it.

"I use it all the time. There's a lot of local anger about it," she said.

"We're all elderly people around here – there's nowhere else to go. We've got this, and a Spar, and a doctor, and that's it.

"The nearest one is in Hazel Grove but I don't drive, my husband is on a mobility scooter, so it's difficult to get to."

Gill, another resident, said: "I hope it stays open, I really do.

"The nearest one's in Hazel Grove – you'd have to wait ten to fifteen minutes for a bus, then it's about a half an hour journey. Then wait for one all the way back. Public transport out here isn't great.

"We're in High Lane, it's a village, but I think people forget we're still in Greater Manchester – we're part of Stockport. I think politicians forget that – we don't get the same benefits and consideration that other areas do."

Local resident Jim is one of the regular post office users (Image - LDRS)

Patricia, who lived in High Lane for 40 years before moving to Hazel Grove, said: "I hope it stays open, very much so. It's unbelievable that it will be closing.

"People rely on it not just for postage but to draw money out. There's no banks anywhere near here, they're all closed, everything's moving online."

Hazel Grove MP Lisa Smart has joined the campaign to save the Post Office from closure.

She submitted two petitions to Parliament this week, with more than 1,500 signatures in total from local residents calling to keep Post Office services in the village.

Ms Smart said the branch provides a number of "vital" services which High Lane residents depend on.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It's a vital asset for the whole community, and particularly older residents who use services at the post offices and are less online. It's what turns a village into a community.

"The volume of responses we have received show just how important this is to local people. We're talking to the Post Office management to look at what options there are for keeping services in the area."

The Post Office said the postmaster in High Lane has worked at the branch since 2005, and that it would welcome interest from anyone who feels they could take over the running of the branch.

A spokesperson added: "High Lane Post Office was one of the branches that we had hoped to modernise under the Network Transformation programme which started in 2012.

"Postmasters were given the choice whether to modernise their branch with Government funding, or to leave under this programme.

"The number of names on the petition show the strength of support for a Post Office in this area of Stockport. Our field team is happy to meet retailers about the business opportunity."

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