The Oxford Mail has collected 7,000 signatures in a campaign against post office closures in Oxfordshire and given copies to Gordon Brown.

During five weeks of consultation, the Newsquest-owned daily distributed petition sheets to each of the 22 branches affected and covered protests across the county.

In a number of human-interest articles, readers were told how one woman had used her local branch since 1928 and how servicemen relied on the services of a threatened branch close to an airbase.

The campaign, Save our Post Offices, culminated with copies of the petition being delivered to Downing Street and Post Office Ltd’s headquarters.

A further 10,000 signatures had already been sent to the capital by the county’s postmasters.

While in London, reporter Thom Airs interviewed Conservative leader David Cameron, whose constituency is in Oxfordshire, and other county MPs Andrew Smith and Dr Evan Harris. All three pledged their support to the Oxford Mail’s direct action.

Airs with the list

Exactly 150 readers also had their more detailed objections to the closure programme taken directly to Post Office HQ after they filled out coupons printed in the paper.

The delivery of the petitions was placed on the front page and a double-page spread while an accompanying video was also posted on www.oxfordmail.co.uk.

Editor Simon O’Neill said: “This was a worthwhile cause which was driven, and clearly appreciated, by our readers.

“The depth of feeling from communities hit by the threat of having their post office taken away from them was felt throughout the newsroom.

“The Government and Post Office Ltd were shown at first hand the importance of these facilities in Oxfordshire and hopefully some positive news can come off the back of our campaign.”