THE arguments for keeping village post offices within village shops are well recited. But it is well to be reminded of them, because they are fundamental to present and future country community life. Elderly villagers, of whom there are many in my village

THE arguments for keeping village post offices within village shops are well recited. But it is well to be reminded of them, because they are fundamental to present and future country community life.

Elderly villagers, of whom there are many in my village and probably many other villages, find it nearly impossible to get transport to larger Post Offices. The logistics and work involved for them to arrange their financial lives is exhausting. I am not yet of pensionable age but, having broken a wrist badly, I spent six weeks dependent on local public transport. Post Offices are the focus for receiving pensions, arranging television licences, phone bills sometimes, mailing, banking.

In my village there are many older people who are dependent on either the village shop/Post Office or have to go by bus to the nearest town. For Catworth, the nearest Post Office is in Thrapston and there is one bus a week. Driving is not an option for most of these elderly people.

If a village Post Office closes, the chances are that the village shop harbouring this Post Office will have to wind down too. This brings the same problems for elderly people. The village shop provides newspapers, all the fundamental household groceries, dry-cleaning, shoe repairs, advertising of local services, delivery of prescriptions from the nearest medical centre.

Do we really want to make our villages into deserts, where only the young, fit and affluent live with comfort and the rest struggle? We have to prepare for an older, less mobile population.

FIONA CAITHNESS, Station Road, Catworth