A 40,000-name petition opposing the culling of local post offices has been delivered to the heart of Government by the Daily Post.

One in four north Wales branch offices is facing closure, according to the paper.

And its campaign to halt the decline has galavanised readers into action with news of a second wave of closures.

More than 9,000 readers put their names on coupons of protest printed in the paper, while a further 31,000 signed petitions organised by the paper which were placed in post offices across north Wales.

The list of names, and a letter from editor Rob Irvine, was delivered to Downing Street by Prestatyn sub-postmaster Peter Montgomery, with representatives from the Daily Post.

As the petition was presented, Post Office minister Jim Fitzpatrick told the Post and its readers that he was determined to protect the fabric of rural communities – and pledged to help remote branches.

He said: "The 40,000 of your readers demonstrates the strength of feeling there is out there.

"We didn't underestimate this. We recognise the value of sub-post offices right across the country which is why we are trying to protect the network.

"Clearly the strength of opinion will weigh our minds."

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling last year announced a blueprint which will see the closure of 2,500 branches, around one sixth of the network.