A MEMORIAL dedicated to postal workers who fought in the First World War will be moved if Post Office proposals go ahead.

The Post Office want to move the current main branch in Hereford in St Peter's Street to WHSmith in High Town.

They are currently holding a public consultation which finishes on December 19.

Janet Moult wrote to the Hereford Times expressing her concerns about the war memorial which is inside the branch in St Peter's Street on the right hand side.

She said: "We made sure it moved from the old Post Office building to the entrance of the present Post Office. Where will it be placed with this move?"

It was moved from the former Post Office which was sited in Broad Street where Pizza Express now stands.

Peter Mayne, curator of the Postal Museum at the sorting office in Hereford, said they had always planned to get the memorial moved to the museum, even before the proposed relocation of the Post Office was announced. Negotiations are taking place.

Mr Mayne said the Post Office in Broad Street was the only Post Office many years ago and as well as counter staff there were postal workers downstairs in the cellars, as well as BT telephonists and engineers.

He said: "The last people to leave were the counter clerks and they made sure the memorial moved too."

There are 17 names on the war memorial of postmen and one engineer who fought in the First World War.

Once it is moved to the sorting office it will be re-dedicated.

A Post Office spokeswoman said: “Our war memorials are dedicated to those of our colleagues who worked for the organisation when it was known as the General Post Office (GPO), which included what is now Royal Mail.

"We are working with Royal Mail to identify the most appropriate place to relocate.

"Please be reassured that we fully recognise the importance and significance of the war memorial at Hereford Post Office and, once agreed, the relocation will be handled with due and proper care and sensitivity, including a re-dedication ceremony.”