More than 100 villagers braved the pouring rain to show support in saving their post office which has been earmarked for closure.Post Office Ltd, wants to shut Scole post office as part of its controversial shake-up of the national network.

More than 100 villagers braved the pouring rain to show support in saving their post office which has been earmarked for closure.

Post Office Ltd, wants to shut Scole post office as part of its controversial shake-up of the national network.

Postmistress Kim Charles has launched a campaign to keep the post office open and has so far collected more than 1,400 signatures for a petition.

She said the protest was the village's last chance before the June 2 deadline to show its support for the campaign.

She added: “I was just amazed by the support of everyone who turned out in the pouring rain and it just shows how much the post office is used and needed in Scole.

“I would like to thank all the people who turned up for the protest.”

Rock Star Rick Wakeman, who lives locally, was among those taking part in the protest campaigning against the closure.

Meanwhile, campaigners say that a service to small internet businesses will be lost if Cromer Road Post Office at Sheringham closes under the controversial plans to shut branches across Norfolk.

Campaigners trying to save the branch fear mail order and Ebay entrepreneurs who use the friendly, accessible post office to send items ranging from gardening equipment for the Queen to cosmetics, will have to find other ways of dispatching large parcels and high volumes of mail.

Simon Drummond, who runs the thriving internet gardening supply business Get Digging, whose customers include the royal family, said he would not be able to walk through the suggested alternative post office in the town, in Starlings toy shop, with his large parcels and would have to find a private courier if the Cromer Road branch shut.

Sub-postmaster Andrew Worsdale said that those businesses would be hard pushed to find a post office that provided a service like his. It is a purpose-built shop and there was nowhere else they could take them.

North Norfolk district councillors will discuss a motion asking the government to revoke its decision to close sub post offices at a meeting on Wednesday.