Angry residents at Springfield sheltered housing complex on Pontefract Road are objecting to Post Office Ltd's proposed closure of the street's branch – which they say is a vital service for older people.

Residents are collecting a petition with the Castleford Area Voice for the Elderly (CAVE) group in a desperate bid to save the Pontefract Road post office from the axe.

Group chairman Margaret Shillito said:

"There is only the Pontefract Road post office close to Springfield sheltered housing and other older people.

"It is a lifeline for elderly people, they can get money, post items and get advice there.

"The branch in Castleford town centre is quite a distance away and these people are in sheltered housing, some are frail or have poor mobility."

Castleford councillors Tony Wallis and Mark Burns-Williamson are supporting the petition.

Coun Wallis – who met mail chiefs on Tuesday to discuss the closure plans – has also lobbied Prime Minister Gordon Brown to look at creating a "one stop shop" for postal and public services.

He said: "People are very cross that Pontefract Road post office might close.

"I have sent a petition to number ten suggesting the creation of one stop shops – they could include a police point, post office and other public services all in one place.

"The initiative would have to come from central government but I hope it could start here and snowball."

Coun Burns-Williamson added: "If we don't make a stand about this one where will it end?

"It's all right putting pins on maps to choose closures but actually this post office serves a large residental area – it is not that simple."

Coun Wallis' petition can be viewed and signed online at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/onestopshop/.