Deluge of support for Post Office Card Account, says Beith

11.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jun 2008

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith has received almost 1000 postcards from constituents saying they want to keep their Post Office card account, which is currently under threat.

Mr Beith says:

"The strength of public feeling about the prospect of more change in how people can get their pensions and benefits is obvious. I have taken these concerns to the Prime Minister and others and hope that, for a change, the Government will listen to what people are saying.

"The Card Account tender is worth around £1 billion a year to the Post Office network and plays a vital part in supporting branches, which are often the hub of our rural communities."

4.3 million people around the UK use the card account, including many pensioners. The account was brought in when the Government decided that all benefits and pensions had to be paid into a bank account. Now pensioners and those on benefits face the prospect of further change.