The end of the road at the Lighthouse Post Office in Fleetwood and the Hodder Way office in Poulton yesterday were the latest of 11 closures on the Fylde.

Cleveleys' North Drive Post Office was also scheduled to close yesterday but had already shut its doors.

Even though protests have been exhausted and the end has been inevitable for some time, customers are still bitter about the loss of their community facilities.

In Fleetwood, among the final customers was pensioner Helen Whitehouse, who had come in a taxi – despite the fact she lives on the other side of town in Wingrove Road.

She said: "I have always come here.

"I can also do some shopping at the same time.

"It's a great shame it's closing."

Now her granddaughter has arranged for her pension to be paid into her bank account.

Mrs Whitehouse added: "I just didn't fancy going to any other post office."

Carole Jackson, secretary at Chaucer Primary School, said: "I am disgusted. I sent a letter to complain and all I got was the standard reply.

Boost

"You can go somewhere else but they won't give the service they give you here."

Although the post office service closed at Hodder Way in Poulton, businessman Mark Blamire is doing his best to offer as much service as he can – and boost his business.

In his convenience store he has installed a cash point and another machine to enable people to pay bills and top up mobile phones was due to be operating from today.

He said: "The post office was important profit-wise.

"Now we will have to wait and see how it goes.

"We are hoping to be able to win some new customers."

Derek Eaton, of the Lighthouse, will continue with his stationery business, but declined to comment.