LET'S ALL BACK BRITAIN'S 'VIBRANT' HIGH STREETS

POST Offices will lead the comeback of vibrant high streets following a revamp next year, bosses promise.

- BY GILES SHELDRICK Chief Reporter

Branches are set to increasingly fill the void left by banks closing, and will offer services from advice for small businesses to prescription hubs.

This will lure shoppers back to town centres, hit hard by Chancellor Rachel Reeves's tax-grabs in successive Budgets, which have forced a slew of stores out of business. Backing this newspaper's Save Our High Streets campaign, Post Office chief executive Neil Brocklehurst said: "A Post Office plays a key role in creating and maintaining a vibrant local high street.

"Postmasters provide essential face-to-face services from cash withdrawals and deposits to bill payments and, of course, posting Christmas gifts." He added: "The Express has championed the Post Office and I want to thank the paper and its readers for supporting their local branches.

"In the new year, we'll look to strengthen the Post Office's presence on the high street with new products and services, working closely with the government as it sets out its plans for the future of our organisation.

"In the meantime, I wish Express readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year on behalf of the Post Office and our thousands of local postmasters." As scores of big name banks, building societies, and shops continue to abandon towns and cities there is growing concern the shopping heart of communities will stop beating.

In a further setback for the high street, footfall on Super Saturday the final weekend before Christmas - was down 6.9% on last year.