CAMPAIGNERS against the loss of a permanent post office in Innerleithen have this week handed over a petition to mail bosses.

The town was rocked in February with the resignation of the postmaster at the Daymart Newsagent's in February.

A bid was made by Caldwell's Ice Cream parlour to take over the service.

But earlier this month, following a six week consultation, Post Office network operations manager Kenny Lamont revealed that a mobile service every Friday would fill the gap.

Last weekend all five candidates standing for the Tweeddale East seat at Scottish Borders Council - Shona Haslam, Robin Tatler, Amanda Kubie, Simon Ritchie and Stuart Bell - collected signatures backing calls for a permanent service to be reinstated.

A total of 300 signatures were presented this week to both Mr Lamont and the Post Office's public affairs manager Linda Bonar.

Stuart Bell, who helped organise the petition, told us: "We are really pleased that in just over a week we have had over 300 signatures to our petition calling on the post office to work with local retailers to deliver a permanent postal desk in Innerleithen with adequate opening hours.

"This petition has already attracted nearly five times the number signatures to the Post Office's own consultation.

"Time is of the essence so we are keeping up the pressure on the Post Office to take action to solve this Innerleithen postal crisis."

The petition is asking for Post Office bosses to enter into fresh talks about establishing a permanent postal facility in the town.

Fellow council candidate Simon Ritchie added: ""Our thanks go to the other Tweeddale East council candidates for their support in making this a cross-party campaign.

"A van on a Friday morning is not an adequate postal facility.

"We thank all those members of the public who have signed this petition either in person or online.

"With their support we will keep striving to get this postal crisis resolved."