Confusion reigns over the future of Wallingford's post office amid fears that the shop where it is based is poised to close.

The post office based in the Martin's newsagent, in St Martin's Street, looks set to close as the shop's lease runs out on Monday, June 25. Supermarket chain Waitrose, which owns the lease, said Martin's had indicated it would not be renewing its agreement.

And community leaders are concerned over where a replacement post office could open.

Mayor Nigel Moor said: "The closure will leave a town of 7,000 people without a post office.

"I am appalled at the lack of contact over this issue, but we cannot just wait for the post office to pull out of the town and leave us high and dry."

Martins property agent Alan Brook insisted a decision had not yet been taken, and the post office was also unaware of a potential closure.

A spokesman for the post office said: "We need three months notice of the termination of a contract over the use of premises by the post office and we have heard nothing."

Mr Moor said: "These people do not seem to be talking to each other, and the position is potentially very harmful.

"We heard of the likelihood of the closure when we as a council were discussing plans for the regeneration of Wallingford, including the old Waitrose building and the land behind it.

"We realised the lease on Martins was due to run out but that nothing had been settled about the future of the shop and, more importantly, the post office."