Fifty-four post offices across the Black Country and Worcestershire are to be axed, Royal Mail has announced today.

All but one originally earmarked for closure under the cost-cutting drive will close, despite pressure from customers and politicians to keep the branches open.

A further 13 branches will be replaced by substitute services. The news follows a six-week consultation by Post Office Ltd in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell and Worcestershire.

Campaigners said the move would sound the death knell for communities and independent living for thousands of elderly residents in both urban and rural areas.

But Royal Mail said the closures – the first swathe of which are scheduled to take place from November – were inevitable.

It insisted every customer response had been taken into account and had formed part of the final decision.

Mark Partington, Post Office Ltd’s network development manager for Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands, said: “These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly.

“We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation.

“We believe the amended plan announced today offers our customers across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future.”

Only one branch – The Butts in Walsall – won its fight to stay open and survives the chop.

However, its reprieve means another branch – Wilkin in Brownhills – is now under threat.

A six-week consultation on this new proposal will begin on November 11.

The announcement is the last in a year-long nationwide programme to assess and implement the proposed closure of 2,500 post offices across the country.

The 54 Post Offices to be axed include:

Newhampton Road West, Wolverhampton.

Prestwood Road, Wolverhampton.

Portobello, Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton.

Upper Penn, Penn Road, Wolverhampton.

Villiers Avenue, Villiers Square, Bilston.

Delves, Walstead Road, Walsall.

Stafford Street, Walsall.

Dudley Fields, Sneyd Hall Road, Dudley Fields, Walsall.

Rushall, Lichfield Road, Walsall.

Quarry Bank, High Street, Brierley Hill.

Silver End, Brettell Lane, Brierley Hill.

Rood End, Rood End Road, Oldbury, Warley.

Rounds Green, 87 Brades Road, OIdbury, Warley.

Stanley Road, Oldbury.

Victoria Park, High Street, Smethwick.

Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick.

Greets Green, Whitehall Road, West Bromwich.

New Street, West Bromwich.

High Street, West Bromwich.

Hasbury, Hagley Road, Halesowen.

Long Lane, Halesowen.

Barnett Lane, Kingswinford.

Brockmoor, Brierley Hill.

Clent Parish Hall, Church Avenue, Stourbridge.

The Walshes, Queens Road, Stourport-on-Severn.

Oldswinford, Hagley Road, Stourbridge.

Pedmore, Hagley Road, Stourbridge.

Comberton Hill, Kidderminster.

Stone, Park Lane, Harvington.

Wolverley, The Newsagents Shop, Wolverley.