Despite hundreds of letters of protest being sent before Monday's deadline, it is feared that decisions have already been made and post offices in Chichester, Bognor Regis and Easebourne will close under government orders to axe 2,500 branches across the country.

"It has come from Whitehall and we fear they will follow that to the letter regardless, and go ahead with the closures," said henry Smith, the leader of West Sussex County Council.

And West Sussex is unlikely to follow in the footsteps of Essex, where the county council is looking to take over the running of post offices earmarked for closure.

Mr Smith said the option was thought to be too costly as the Post Office would still close the branch and force the council to reopen it.

But the council was looking into the possibility of creating new post office services in other community locations, such as libraries, which could soften the blow.

"I don't want to create false hope but it is something we are talking to Essex about to see what they are doing," Mr Smith said.

Council figures show the Chichester 'crown' branch in West Street could be forced to cope with up to 3,000 extra transactions a week should the two under-threat branches in the city close. The central Bognor branch in Station Road could face an extra 1,500 transactions.

"We have all been in those long queues at the crown post offices and they will only get worse," he said.

The council leader also criticised the Post Office for refusing to open its books and justify its reasons for the proposed closures. The Post Office is expected to announce closures in the next few months.

Under the proposals, the following branches would close: Aldwick Street and Barrack Lane, Aldwick; Hawthorn Road and Station Road, Bognor Regis; Sadlers Walk, East Street, and The Ridgeway, Parklands, Chichester; Easebourne Street, Easebourne; Gordon Avenue, South Bersted; and Four Seasons Country Store, Rockwood Road, West Wittering.