Postwatch representative Malcolm Butler told a public meeting in the town the High Street building would be unable to cope with the extra customers if three other branches around the town closed.

"I am not sure whether the big post office here can actually handle the extra business coming its way," he said.

"It's worth asking if there will be enough staff in place, enough counters open and enough seating.

"The main branch is really under pressure. Something has to be done about that. Whether that's something within the post office or pulling another post office from the plan (to keep it open), I don't know.

"I think Post Office Ltd recognises that but I can't make any promises on its behalf."

Official figures show between 3,500 to 3,999 customers a week already use the High Street branch with its seven serving positions.

Postwatch is monitoring the closure process to ensure it is carried out
correctly. It can make comments about the affect of axing branches on the local community but it has no authority to halt the closures.

Mr Butler was speaking at a public meeting held MP Nick Gibb into the prospect of five post offices in Bognor, Aldwick and South Bersted being shut.

"We have got to make sure people are not cut off from post office branches," he stated.

Mr Butler joined Mr Gibb on the platform at the meeting alongside Arun District Council leader Cllr Gill Brown.

She said: "This is a really important fight. We must do everything we can to prevent these closures."

No one from Post Office Ltd was willing to attend. The company sent two officials to a meeting of councillors in January and said that would be the only public event which would be attended.

A decision about which branches will be axed is set to be made in April.