THE axe could fall on all of Tamworth's post offices outside of the town centre, a letter warned sub-postmasters in the town this week.

The Herald has exclusively received a copy of the letter sent to all sub-postmasters in the town, which claims all post offices that make £60,000 or less will be converted to Post Office Locals, with staff asked to take a 75 per cent reduction in salary.

Alternatively, the letter said, postmasters would receive compensation and their office would be closed. One sub-postmaster in Tamworth, who asked not to be named, said: "This is the death of the Post Office service as we know it."

The letter claims that thousands of closures across the country are "inevitable".

According to sources, the town centre office and Wilnecote sub-postoffice would survive, but it could spell the end for offices in Amington, Stonydelph, Glascote, Coton Green, Bolehall, Polesworth and Austrey.

The news has been unwelcome among sub-postmasters in Tamworth that the Herald contacted.

Another unnamed sub-postmaster, said: "Cuts have to be made in the service, we accept that, but this seems to me to be a backdoor way of doing things.

"Most post offices which don't make £60,000 will close, and Tamworth will be left with branches in the town centre and probably in Wilnecote.

"Many of us won't be able to take the big pay cut so we will be compensated, but not as much as the three years' salary we would have got for closing during the cuts made under the previous government."

Another unnamed postmaster said: "The goalposts keep being moved, but as ever, we will stand up for our rights as we have done for the past 30 years.

"Splitting Royal Mail and Post Office Limited makes no sense whatsoever and the emergence of things like Pay-Point has taken away a lot of our business.

"It's all very disconcerting and we're fearing the worst."

Paul Madan, branch secretary for the South East area National Federation of SubPostmasters, (NFSP) confirmed the letter had been sent out as a "warning shot" from the South East and South West regional councils of the NFSP.

However, NFSP general secretary George Thomson said: "The claims within the letter sent to sub-postmasters are without foundation, and in no way represent the views of the NFSP."

The letter claims that the Postal Services Bill is being "bulldozed" through the House of Commons, which will see Post Office Limited separated from Royal Mail.

The Herald contacted the Royal Mail for a comment, but at the time of going to press none had been received.