Carr Vale Community Association hopes the move will force the postponement of the closures of nine branches across the area, which are due to start next week.

The group has sent information challenging the consultation process to Post Office bosses to try to halt the closure of the branches — which include Carr Vale, Hillstown, Langwith Junction, Model Village and Shuttlewood — and are waiting for a response.

Community association chairman Jon Dale told Chad: "We're doing all we can to save these vital services. From the start we said the Post Office 'consultation' process was flawed. We believe it failed to take the views of users into account.

"We are also arguing that the Post Office has failed to assess the impact of closures on disabled people. They are required to do this by the Disability Discrimination Act. The closures will hit the disabled, many of whom are elderly, particularly hard.

"And we don't think the Post Office has taken into account the effect post office closures will have on the local economy."

The group has gained advice from lawyers about the situation and has applied for legal aid to fund a possible judicial review if it is not satisfied with the response from Post Office bosses.

Added Mr Dale: "In Bolsover we're in the frontline, as part of the first batch in a national programme of 2,500 closures across the country in 2008.

"If we can hold up the closure plan through the courts, it would give hope to campaigners around the country to step up the battle to save this vital service."

'Difficult'

Post Office bosses confirmed last month plans to close a number of branches across Mansfield, Ashfield and Bolsover following a six-week public consultation.

And a spokesman for the Post Office told Chad this week: "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 that the amended plan which has just been announced offers our customers across the East Midlands area the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future, bearing in mind the Government's minimum access criteria and the other factors the Government has asked us to consider."