Royal Mail has announced the closure of five of the borough’s post offices.

Albemarle Road, Beckenham,Walden Road in Chislehurst, and Carlton Parade, Crofton Lane, and Pratts Bottom, all in Orpington, will be closed after the result of a six-week consultation.

The proposal to close was part of the London Plan which sees 155 other branches closing across the city.

The Government announced national criteria to put the Post Office back on a more stable footing after fewer people are using its services.

The criteria stated 99 per cent of the UK population should be within three miles of their local branch and 90 per cent of the population to be within one mile.

The first wave of closures will begin next month.