THERE has been fury at the news the Post Office plans to close Bexleyheath's main post office and transfer it into the WH Smith store.

Bexleyheath is one of more than 70 Crown post offices whose facilities will move to the company's chain of shops.

Bexley Council leader Councillor Ian Clement described the proposal as "ludicrous".

With queues at the current post office in the Broadway often stretching down the street, Cllr Clement says he cannot see how WH Smith's Bexleyheath store in the Broadway Mall could fit a post office in its shop.

He added: "How can it be better for customers? This is rubbish. It is just cost cutting."

Cllr Clement and Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett are both writing protest letters to Post Office Ltd about the proposal.

Mr Evennett also thinks WH Smith's Bexleyheath store is too small for a post office and already too congested.

He says business at Bexleyheath's post office has increased because of the closure of 17 sub-post offices in the borough.