A COMMUNITY struggling to better itself could lose its post office by November.

Leigh Park Initiative is working hard to provide community facilities for the neglected estate on the edge of Wimborne.

But sub-postmistress Denise Shepherd has given notice she wants to give up Leigh Park post office - she and her husband Brian will be closing their general shop, too.

Post Office spokesman Dan Panes confirmed that Leigh Park had been put forward for closure and that public consultation was currently taking place so that residents could come up with reasons why it should be retained.

"We're having to take measures to make individual post offices viable," he said.

"There are too many post offices fighting for the same amount of custom. It doesn't make economic sense.

"We're looking at closing urban post offices, quite frankly.

"We sent out letters back in March last year asking people if they wanted to stay in business or not.

"They (the Shepherds) wanted to leave."

Chairman of the Leigh Park Residents Association John Burden said: "It's going to hit this area very hard.

"Not only do older people draw their pension there, they come back and use the two other shops here.

"Older people don't want to walk all the way to the Square."

Town councillor Antony Oliver said: "For the sake of the community it will be another sad day - it's a loss of a service.

"But having said that, I do respect the owners because they have got a business to run and you can't expect them to run something that's making a loss."

Leigh Road resident and double glazier Trevor Pickering greeted the news with dismay.

"I would hate to see the post office close," he said.

"It's handy for us - we use it for all our registered post and our parcels.

"It's such a lovely little post office and it's within walking distance.

"If I go into the one in Wimborne it's chock-a-bloc - especially on a Friday."