A businessman angry at the proposed closure of his nearest post office has sent bosses 50 parcels of books in protest.

Shane Taylor, who runs internet-based Tarrington Books, says the parcels represent the average number he sends from Lower Eggleton Post Office each week.

He hopes the stunt will demonstrate the large amount of business some outlets have – and the weight of goods people will have to transport to post offices further away.

“We process around 200 parcels each month at the Lower Eggleton store. If it closes, we’ll have to carry this amount into Hereford.

“They are talking of replacing it with an outreach service a couple of times a week but we need it every day. It’s a service we could really do with saving.”

Mr Taylor was joined by his partner Sonja Bladt and a large group of protestors outside the Lower Eggleton store on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, the campaign to tackle post office closures across Herefordshire is going strong.

There was standing room only at the Tudorville Youth Centre in Ross-on-Wye as concerned residents put questions to Post Office Ltd and the consumer watchdog Postwatch about the proposed closure of Tudorville Post Office.

Issues raised included the impact on less mobile residents and how a possible closure would affect county businesses which use the outlet.

Jesse Norman, the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hereford and south Herefordshire, said: “It was a very good meeting and shows the huge strength of local feeling against the closure.”

Sarah Carr, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the same area, was in Hereford to campaign over the proposed closure of Redhill Post Office.

To demonstrate the difficulty closure would bring to the community, she walked to the store alongside mobility scooter user Marion Taylor.

“I saw first-hand the dreadful state of the pavements, the lack of drop down kerbs and how terrifying it is when cars and lorries thunder past.

“I will include this in my response to Post Office Ltd and Postwatch as to why Redhill Post Office should be kept open,” she said.

Villagers were also planning a public meeting at Cradley Village Hall over the reduction of services at Cradley Post Office, which is entering into a full-time partnership with the main store in Malvern.

Meanwhile, on the Worcestershire border, offers are being sought to take over the running of Bringsty Post Office.

The outlet is earmarked as an alternative for Edwyn Ralph but the sub-postmistress is due to resign next month. Anyone interested should contact Post Office Ltd.