North-East Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt led a meeting at Ravensden Village Hall last Thursday to put the case against proposals by the Post Office for a series of closures throughout the north of the county.

The hall was filled with members of the public, Conservative borough and county councillors and parish representatives from all the affected areas – Ravensden, Stevington, Thurleigh, Upper Dean and Colmworth.

Mr Burt said: "This was a good meeting in which people expressed their severe disappointment with the proposals to close Stevington and Ravensden in particular, but offered some support for a mobile service in Upper Dean, Colmworth and Thurleigh. This showed how fair people could be, but the greatest concern was over Ravensden.

"We believe the meeting was more than useful, as residents and councillors were able to point out information the Post Office was unaware of, from the growing retirement park in the village, the importance of the shop to the wider community in north Bedfordshire and to the fewer opening hours forced on Ravensden which would have affected their figures of the use being made of the Post Office there.

"There will be a continuing campaign to save the Ravensden Post Office, and I will be working with local councillors and the parish council to do all I can to help."