A POST office counter at the centre of the community in Liden could close by the end of March, residents have learned.

The lease for the counter inside the Tesco Express in the Liden Village Centre is due to be renewed at the end of March.

Staff at the store informed a parish councillor on Friday they were being threatened with closure.

The Post Office counter is said to be used by nearby elderly residents in Edgehill Care home and for people who need to renew their electric metre cards.

Zach Hawson, parish councillor the Liden, told the Adver the Post Office was an important component of amenities in the area.

"It's an absolutely crucial amenity," he told the Adver. "it's well used by pensioners who go to get their pension."

The Village centre forms part of a hub of local services for the community, including the library and community centre.

"It's in the centre of the whole of Liden," he added.

"You see lots of people, young and old, going round there.

"There's no similar counter near by which means that for people in Liden there's no real substitute."

The councillor said the closure could come as soon as April, unless a postponement order can be made to keep it open until May.

The second option would be to move the Post Office inside Liden Library, if it couldn't stay inside the Tesco.

After the closure of a Post Office in Eldene in 2016 the nearest one to Liden residents would either be in Covingham or Park North.

Robert Buckland MP for South Swindon has written to both companies to find a way of resolving the issue.

He told the Adver: "I have been in urgent contact with the Post Office to find out what can be done to make sure that this important service can continue in Liden Centre.

"I am also contacting Tesco to find out what steps can take to resolve this situation."