Nearly 150 people have signed a petition to save Rose Hill's post office.

As reported in the Oxford Mail, the Royal Mail has confirmed it will shut the branch in Courtland Road, Oxford, on Monday, after failing to reach an agreement with the owners, Anna and Bharat Dalal.

Mr and Mrs Dalal, who plan to open a pharmacy, say they want a post office to remain there, but only if they can be involved in its running, or receive rent.

They say the post office has been on the premises for more than two years, with no financial benefit to them. Local residents are furious the post office is to shut and that they received less than two weeks' notice.

George Cooper, chairman of Rose Hill's Silver Threads pensioners' club said: "Our members are all upset at the news. A lot of them still go down there to get their pensions and we think it's terrible that we're going to lose it."

Mr and Mrs Dalal have collected 10 pages of names in support of keeping the post office and are in talks with city councillor Ed Turner and Oxford East MP Andrew Smith about what action can be taken to save it.

Mr Dalal said: "It has always been our intention to keep a post office in the new pharmacy, but we need to come to some agreement."

Mr Turner said: "Andrew Smith and I are asking for an urgent meeting with the Royal Mail to clarify the situation and see whether there's any way the post office at Rose Hill can be kept open.

"It's clear that Mr and Mrs Dalal want to see both a pharmacy and a post office run from their shop. I don't understand why the Royal Mail cannot accept this arrangement."

Mr Smith said: "Whatever the differences over the terms, the post office should be kept open while they're sorted out."

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said: "We do see this as a temporary closure and would be interested in hearing from anybody who may be interested in taking the facility on."