Despite a hard-fought campaign by local people to keep it open with more than 3,400 signing a petition, the award-winning sub post office has been allocated for closure by Post Office Ltd.

This makes it the fourth post office to close in Knaresborough in the last five years following closures at Calcutt, Scriven and Stockwell.

Knaresborough is now left with one post office on the High Street to serve a community of more than 15,000 people.

The Aspin shop and post office run by postmaster Alex Houseman for the past eight years is expected to close within the next two months.

Post Office Ltd earmarked the sub post office business for closure having reprieved Cold Bath Road post office in Harrogate in February.

County Coun Richard Hall, who led the campaign and organised the petition said: “This is appalling news for Knaresborough.

“Yet again central government diktat ignores the needs of the local community.

“We had a magnificent campaign, which I was pleased to lead, organised by the Town Council, and the community of Knaresborough did everything it could to ensure that Knaresborough retained two Post Offices.

MP Phil Willis was shocked. “I am finding it difficult to find the words to express my anger at the decision to close Aspin Lane Post Office,” said Mr Willis.

“I cannot believe that the Post Office could take this decision. This is an important community facility not only serving the immediate area but the wider town.

“Aspin Lane was suggested as an alternative to Chain Lane when that post office was proposed for closure earlier in the year. I do not know what changed in the intervening period that suddenly made Aspin Lane a candidate for closure.

“This is a slap in the face for the whole of Knaresborough who rallied round in a fantastic community effort to petition both the Government and Post Office Ltd to retain this post office.”

Post Office Ltd intends to explore the possibility of providing an outreach service to supplement existing provision in the Knaresborough area because of concerns raised by Postwatch and customers during the consultation prior to the announcement.

Claire Kelley, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, is calling on Harrogate Borough Council to protect services for Knaresborough residents.

And Andrew Jones, prospective Conservative Parliamentary Candidate said he was also disappointed tat the Post Office had not decided to keep the branch open.

Adrian Wales, Post Office Ltd’s Network Development Manager North East said: “The decision to close Aspin Lane branch has not been taken lightly.

“We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation but we consider that once the branch closes, customers in the area will still have good access to our services.”

Alex Houseman, who will retire following the announcement, recognised local people would be disappointed.

“It’s nice for us, but not so nice for the people.