Post Office chief executive Adam Crozier has promised he will look into the future of the post office in Bingley after being lobbied by an MP.

The town's only post office will have to close in December with a permanent loss of services if no-one steps forward to take over the franchise counter at Martin's newsagents, in the Myrtle Walk precinct.

Essex-based TM Retail does not want to renew the franchise.

Shipley MP Philip Davies met Mr Crozier for dinner at the Conservative party conference in Bournemouth and set out the arguments as to why Bingley should keep its post office.

Mr Davies said: "Mr Crozier agreed that somewhere the size of Bingley needs a post office. I explained how it was not only beneficial for customers but also for other businesses in the area."

Mr Crozier assured the MP one of his managers would look into the situation and report back to Mr Davies.

The closure threat has caused concern among businesspeople and residents.

Bingley Business Watch chairman Kay Adams, said: "Bingley will die without a post office because people will not come in and shop here if there's no post office.

"We feel totally despondent because nothing is getting done for Bingley at the moment. We are trying to make Bingley a better place and it's getting left out."

Bingley's nearest post office is a mile-and-a-half away in Gilstead.

Bingley councillor Robin Owens (Con) said: "People of my age are used to going to the post office for stamps and postal orders and for carrying out small financial transactions. There is a lot of sheltered housing in Bingley and a lot of elderly people and the post office is a meeting place for them - it's part social and part commercial."

Coun Owens is also worried small businesses would lose out without a post office in the town.

So far more than 1,000 people have signed a petition to keep the service open. Mr Davies will present the petition to parliament later this month.

Bingley resident Jennifer Wood, 60, said: "The post office is very important to the elderly and there are a lot of elderly people in Bingley.

"All the outlying villages in Bingley have a post office yet the main one could be taken away. It will hit everybody."

e-mail: fiona.evens@bradford.newsquest.co.uk