Residents have spoken of their dismay over losing their post office.

The office in South Parade, north Oxford, is closing because staff say it is unprofitable.

The licence is being transferred to the existing post office at Martins newsagents in Banbury Road, where more counters will be opened.

Elderly residents who had supported a move to the Westlake Pharmacy, also in Banbury Road, say they will face a quarter-of-a-mile walk to buy stamps and collect their pensions. The decision means there will be no post office at the northern end of the Summertown shopping parade.

Bhinder PurewellBhinder Purewell, of Westlake Pharmacy, who applied for the licence and had an interview, said the Post Office had given him the impression he had been successful.

He had spent time preparing a business plan and getting permission from his landlord to alter the pharmacy in Banbury Road for the post office.

Mr Purewell said: "Now the post office will be at the other end of the street which is inaccessible to mothers with children and the elderly."

Alison Cook, of Kelburne Road, Cowley, who works in Banbury Road, said: "It is definitely a shame and will probably inconvenience quite a few people. One side of Summertown to the other is quite far."

Ulla Jenkins, aged 64, of Middle Way, Oxford said: "It is more than a pity, it is a tragedy. I use the post office each day - sometimes three times a day."

Liz Eaton, chairman of the Oxfordshire Federation of Women's Institutes, in Middle Way, said she had signed the petition in favour of relocating the pharmacy on behalf of her 5,000 members, but it had been ignored.

She said: "It is disappointing for the office staff here as we will have to go so much further to the post office - and it is a matter of finding the time."

Ethel Turrill, of Ferry Pool Road, said: "It is a bit of an imposition for people who live near here because they will have to walk further and it is quite tiring when you are old."

The Post Office said in a statement: "Martins have considerable experience of running post offices. The office will benefit from increased opening hours and additional counter positions to cope with demand at busy times.

"We are confident the merging of the two offices is the right decision and will enable us to ensure the future provision of Post Office services for our customers in this area of Oxford."