Royal Mail announced on Tuesday that the outlet was the only at risk branch in Wakefield district to be spared the axe, with Castleford’s Pontefract Road office now to close.

Determined Pontefract residents formed the Friends of Hardwick Road post office and fought a six-week campaign to save the branch.

Pat Danby, group chairman, said: “Everyone is absolutely thrilled. We put all we had into saving the post office through petitions, meetings and protest marches.

“Hardwick Road is a vibrant, busy branch which provides vital services – it has to stay open.”

Postal chiefs made the u-turn on the branch because of parking and travel problems customers would face by having to use the town centre office.

Sub postmaster Karim Zadeh added: “It’s great news for me and the whole community which would have been stranded without services.

“It has been a difficult time – I thank everyone who has supported our fight.”

Royal Mail’s controversial cull of 2,500 post offices nationwide is blamed on mounting costs and dwindling customers.

A total of 63 branches in West Yorkshire were earmarked for closure, but only Hardwick Road and an office in Dewsbury escaped the axe.

Pontefract South Conservative councillors Mark Crowther, Geoff Walsh and Philip Booth joined the campaign to save the Hardwick Road branch.

Coun Crowther said: “This fantastic victory shows local people can win over a national goverment decision.

“I'd like to pay tribute to everyone who pulled together and saved their service.”

Pontefract and Castleford MP Yvette Cooper said: “These proposals were completely unfair on Pontefract residents. This has been a really strong campaign and I’m pleased the Post Office has listened to local people."