It will be a sad day for a Guiseley postmistress when her business closes in a month due to Post Office cutbacks.

Jackie Edmunds has run Town Gate Post Office for 15 years and when the Post Office undertook a review of its branches last year she opted for early retirement.

The post office will now close for good on February 20, leaving two branches in the town on Oxford Road and at White Cross.

"I am sad to be going, when the Post Office gave me the option I took early retirement," she said.

"It is very very sad it is closing, despite the fact I am looking forward to retiring I regret it had to come to this. It will be a sad day.

"I have found it has been great here. I was a stranger to Guiseley, I moved up from Bridlington, and I was made very welcome and became part of everybody's family.

"I will keep in touch with everyone I have a big soft spot for Guiseley. It is going to be a big shock to me."

The branch is one of many being sacrificed by the Post Office as part of local changes to safeguard the future of urban post offices.

The Post Office Ltd announced its intention to modernise more than 9,000 urban branches which are competing against each other for business.

Postmasters were asked to submit their wishes for the future and it was decided with Jackie's retirement the shop would close.

David Mellows-Facer, Post Office Head of Area, said that the changes would safeguard urban post office branches in Guiseley.

"Proposals to close Post Office branches are not made without considerable research and discussion," he said.

"We received a number of comments about the proposal to close Town Gate Post Office branch and the main issues raised were about the convenience of alternative branches and the affect on the elderly community.

"We carefully considered the points raised.

"However, following this exercise, we still believe that the closure of these branches is the correct course of action."

Jackie believes the post office industry is dying, especially when the Government begins paying pensions and benefits straight into people's bank accounts from April.

"The post office business is dying," said the 58-year-old.

"I have noticed big changes since I came here, the customers have diminished and youngsters get their money paid straight into the bank instead of using us.

"We have a little shop here too, but without the Post Office we would see the figures going down. It is a very sad state. It is really not sustainable.

"I hope with the backing of the Post Office other shops will be helped."

She has no plans at the moment but intends to concentrate on walking and getting involved with the Guiseley Senior Citizens' Group.

Mr Mellows-Facer has vouched that Guiseley residents will continue to have reasonable access to Post Office products and services.

"We remain confident that the closure of the Town Gate Post Office branch will improve the long-term prospects of the other branches in the area," he said.

"In particular, we have made sure that Oxford Road Post Office branch and White Cross branch on Bradford Road are ready to cope with the extra customers they are likely to receive."