He was among 19 Labour MPs who backed the Conservatives' call for the suspension of 2,500 closures nationwide.

The motion was narrowly defeated in a vote last Wednesday, but Mr Meale was the only Labour MP in this area to vote with the opposition.

Mr Meale told Chad: "I have campaigned on this issue. I have made my views very clear and I think Post Office Ltd has been atrocious in its approach to this.

"The Post Office seems to be intent on closing down most of the network and not following the proper procedures with proper consultation.

"There's a clear need for post offices but they are still closing them. It is a service and it should be maintained.

"I am not a regular rebel, but on post offices I have campaigned for them and made my views perfectly clear. I said I think it should be halted because I believe that."

Mr Meale added that he wanted a review of the senior management at the company, but said he did not want to comment on his Labour colleagues who voted with the Government.

Fourteen branches across Mansfield, Ashfield and Bolsover have been axed under the closure programme.

But bosses insist the closures are necessary to make the network sustainable because it is losing £4m a week.