Bradford Road, Soothill and Staincliffe post offices in Batley and Fieldhead in Birstall are among 63 branches in West Yorkshire expected to close.

Post Office Ltd today opened a six-week local public consultation on its Area Plan for West Yorkshire with the criteria and factors set by the Government in its Response Document (DTI The Post Office Network, Government response to public consultation May 2007.

A spokesman said there would still be 282 branches open in West Yorkshire and 99.8% of the area's population would either see no change, or would remain within one mile of an alternative branch.

Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood said there were strong arguments for keeping the post offices at Soothill and at Bradford Road in Batley open and was hoping local residents would get behind the campaigns.

Mr Wood is holding a public meeting on Thursday at 6.30pm in Soothill Community Centre, Broomsdale Road.

Mike Wood said: "Batley and Spen has not seen the level of closures up to now that other areas have seen. This is because local postmasters and I have been vigilant and we have worked together to protect the local network.

"However, this latest round is not about voluntary closures it is about targeting the less viable post offices in the network – those that serve the fewest customers each week, that are the least profitable and that are in areas where there is an alternative branch.

"But the post offices at Soothill and Bradford Road are valuable branches that serve distinct communities and I hope local residents will join me in a bid to save them."

For more see Thursday's News.