THE shock closure of a post office and newsagent in Harpenden could prompt an angry campaign, a local resident has predicted.

The unexpected revelation this week that Balfour News in Southdown Road will close days after Christmas on December 29 has already angered many in the community.

The Co-Operative Group, who own the shop and provide the sub-Post Office service, told staff on Thursday that it is breaking its ongoing contact with the Post Office and would not be renewing the building lease in 2009.

The Post Office is now trying to seek another premise in the area to run the service from, but it could prove difficult..

Steve Geldhill, member of the Cravells Road Area Residents’ Association, says a campaign against the closure or to urge the Co-Op to open a sub-Post Office in Somerfields, also owned by the company, is on the horizon.

He said: “Unless the Co-Op give us good cause not to, I think there could be a major campaign over this.

“Residents are already talking about grouping together.

“There’s an increasingly strong feeling by everybody that they have been let down by such a closure.

“I think the Co-Op is acting disgracefully giving just one months notice with no constringency plans, I hope they counteract this soon.

“I would now like to see it behave responsibly and move the Post Office into Somerfields, as they also own it.

“It’s cruel to the staff who have this uncertainty before Christmas in this climate.”

The Southdown service was spared closure last month when thousands of sub-Post Offices across the country were shut.

But it was expected to take pressure of the central Post Office in Station Road, Harpenden, following the closure of a Sub-Post Office in Batford.

Monica Nelson, a spokeswoman for the Co-Op, said this afternoon: "The closure decision was taken with the greatest reluctance and much regret, and was due to the store’s poor trading performance.

"The Co-op is committed to community retailing in the region and in the past year has invested several million pounds in refitting and converting local stores to its new business identity, The Co-operative."

She added that efforts would be made to find other positions in the local area for the redundant staff.

St Albans District Councillor Teresa Heritage for Harpenden, said: "This is a very serious matter. It's not good enough to just close it with no warning, consultation or alternative.

"They can't do this, especially after the closure of similar services across the town.”

Manager of the newsagent, Jim O’Toole, said he was upset for his customers, many of whom have already expressed their sadness at the closure.

He said: “It’s a real loss to the community, I wish there was something we could do.”

The newspaper delivery service to the local area will be lost with the closure.

Sunita Chohan, spokeswoman for the Royal Mail, said: “We are advertising for another business who are willing to take on the service in their premises.

“We will be actively looking to keep it open and see where we can locate services.”