The announcement that the Post Office will keep its crucial card account will ensure the survival of thousands of branches.

Five branches were closed in Mid Sussex last year under the Post Office's Network Change programme despite hard-fought public campaigns to save them.

Another 2,500 post offices are set to shut by the end of the year and a further 3,000 could have gone out of business if the Post Office card account had been awarded elsewhere.

The Post Office distributes benefits to 4.3m customers nationwide through the card account which was brought in to replace the old system of giros and payment books for benefit claimants and pensioners.

Wivelsfield Green post office manager Janet Barham said: "It is excellent news. I'm very pleased. It certainly will make a difference because without it we wouldn't be able to survive."

Janet, who worked at Queens Road and Franklands Village post offices in Haywards Heath, which have both been axed, said: "We are celebrating here."

Jane Cain, the sub-postmistress of Hurstpierpoint and Bolney post offices, said: "This is good news. The card account scheme does make a difference and will help to safeguard our future."

Bim Patel, sub-postmaster at Plumpton Green Village Store and Post Office, said: "It's great news for us.

"This will help other post offices enormously and keep them going."

Read the full story in the Mid Sussex Times

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