A BID to save rural post offices in north Oxfordshire has been launched by local MP Tony Baldry.

The move comes just days after the Government announced cutbacks to the post office network - with at least 3,000 offices, mainly in rural areas, under immediate threat and up to 7,200 offices under consideration for closure in the short-term.

The closures are due to a huge cut in Government funding.

Mr Baldry is urging every post office and parish council in his constituency to join his campaign and sign a petition against the cuts.

In Oxfordshire, more than 12,000 pensioners hold post office card accounts, and Mr Baldry was a supporter of the Federation of Sub-Post Masters and Mistresses' petition to the Department for Trade and Industry earlier this year - which collected over 4m signatures, the largest in history.

Mr Baldry said: "This is high noon for the post office network, but there is still time to save these vital services.

"This is not about subsidising post offices but simply allowing them to compete.

"The Government has persistently undermined our post offices by penalising them while playing to the high street bank network.

"The Government is now threatening to withdraw the card account and prevent post offices from selling TV licences - all of which means the network will be unable to compete.

"Communities want a strong, competitive post office network, supported and not undermined by the Government.

"People must now support this petition, and urge the Government to halt the closures and review funding for post offices.

"Post offices are needed as cornerstones of communities for individuals, businesses, and the most vulnerable in society."

The petition can be signed on-line at www.ProtectOur PostOffices.com - a website which will also feature updates and breaking news on the campaign.