169 post offices lost in the last four years

More than 15 per cent of post offices in the West Midlands have shut down in four years – a loss that was today described as a "tragedy" by a pensioners' group.

New figures reveal the region has lost 169 branches to cost-cutting since 2007, some of which have since been relaunched as new ventures including cafes and hair salons.

The biggest cull came between March 2008 and 2009 when 150 were axed. But a further 11 went between 2009 and 2010 and another eight over the past 12 months.

In March 2011 Royal Mail had 922 post offices in the West Midlands compared with 1,091 in 2008.

Mike Nicholls, chairman of the Wolverhampton Pensioners Convention, said today: "It is a tragedy whenever a post office closes.