CAMPAIGNERS fighting a threat to the future of post offices across West Somerset and the country are calling for public support.

The Government's decision to put DVLA services - the car licensing division - out to tender means post offices currently providing the facility could lose vital business if Post Office Ltd fails to win the contract.

But the ten-year contract, which could be worth around £650 million, could also bring in a host of other work for post offices, helping to secure their viability.

Income generated from the DVLA services would also help maintain essential post office services, such as the Horizon computer accounting system and 'Cash in Transit' facility.

Four post offices in West Somerset - Williton, Dulverton, Porlock and Minehead - currently offer DVLA services.

And Brian Tyner, who has run Williton for the past six years with his wife Caroline, said losing the work would be catastrophic.

"We would be saying goodbye to about 20 per cent of our business," he said.

"This move to put the DVLA services out to tender would kill off a lot of post offices."

Mr Tyner said despite diversifying and selling gifts and other items to bolster the Williton outlet, income had dropped by five per cent since taking over the business.

"We're lucky because some post offices in parts of the country have seen a 30 per cent drop and are virtually bankrupt.

"We've already lost TV licensing, National Savings and Giro benefit cheques - if they take anything else away, it will be disastrous."

Mr Tyner said the post office was able to deal with people face to face and was already resolving a range of DVLA-related problems for customers.

A petition calling for the DVLA work to be retained by the post office network was launched by the Tyners (pictured) this week, with 600 people pledging their support in just two days.

Postcards carrying the same message are also available for people to sign and send to local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, who this week pledged his support for the post office campaign.

"This is madness," he said. "I have grave concerns about the impact of this if the contract is not awarded to Post Office Ltd.

"If post offices, particularly in rural areas like West Somerset are to survive, being able to provide these sorts of services is essential."

Mr Liddell-Grainger said he intended to write to Government Minister Nick Hurd to raise campaigners' concerns.

The National Federation of Sub-Postmasters has warned that more than 5,000 post offices nationally could be forced to close if the DVLA work is lost.

Mr Tyner said the campaign was a chance for the public to show they were not happy about the threat to the future of many post offices and tell the Government.

"We hope as many people as possible will back this campaign - we need everyone's help."

Photo: Steve Guscott