COUNTY councillors in North Yorkshire have stopped short of completely opposing further post office closures.

The quarterly meeting of the full council has prepared a response to Government proposals for further investment over five years to support an overhaul of the post office network, which could lead to the loss of hundreds of offices.

Earlier this month, the council executive and a scrutiny committee both supported a Liberal Democrat motion opposing further closures of offices in the county, subject to a small technical amendment.

However, the full council supported a further amendment, saying that members oppose further closures without alternative appropriate provision being made.

The move was criticised by Lib Dem councillor Gordon Charlton, who said the motion had been watered down and said: "Alternative appropriate provision could mean anything. What the Government considers appropriate may be very different from what service users think."

The Government has said that as part of the overhaul, 2,500 offices nationally could be closed over the next 18 months to reflect a fall in regular custom and losses that the service continues to make.

It is feared that 250 to 300 could close in the county.

To ensure that 99 per cent of people live within three miles of a post office, the Government is suggesting more mobile offices and services in village halls, pubs and community centres.