A LETTER from the Prince of Wales has heartened campaigners trying to save their north Cotswolds post office from closure.

The Prince thanked Harry Taylor, chairman of the Longborough and Sezincote Village Shop Association, "most warmly" for his letter about the threat to close Longborough post office and replace it with nine hours a week of outreach services.

The letter, written on the Prince's behalf by his private secretary and sent last week, continued: "His Royal Highness can well understand why you feel as strongly as you do and he knows how vital the post office is for many villagers.

"This is why five years ago he started his "pub is the hub" initiative to encourage pubs, amongst other things, to become the centre of village services. There are many examples of pubs which have expanded to include a post office, thereby increasing their own viability."

Although Mr Taylor said that the suggestion that the pub could offer post office services was not appropriate for Longborough at this stage, as it still had a village shop, he welcomed the Prince's comments.

"I know he's on side. He's a great champion of the community. I read between the lines that he's quite supportive," said Mr Taylor.

He said he was sure Prince Charles would publicly back their campaign if he could but added: "He's got to be apolitical and I fully understand that. I took heart from his response."

Longborough villagers have thrown their weight behind a campaign to save their post office from closure, prompting Cotswolds MP to call an additional public meeting in the village hall tomorrow (Fri March 7) from 7pm to 9pm.

Urging all residents of the village to attend, Mr Clifton-Brown said: "My office is being deluged by correspondence from affected residents across the constituency with Longborough featuring disproportionately. I have decided it is essential to head to Longborough for a meeting specifically about their post office."

Mr Taylor said he was pleased Mr Clifton-Brown had recognised the strength of feeling in the village.

He said he would be looking to Mr Clifton-Brown to organise a national response against the "whole ethos" of post office closures.

"I'm still concerned that each region is being picked off one by one," said Mr Taylor.

Consultation on the post office closures, which include the complete closure of Weston-sub-Edge post office, and the replacement of post offices in Blockley, Temple Guiting, Guiting Power, Stanway and Great Rollright with outreach services, ends on March 17.