PLANS to close Lunsford Park Post Office at Larkfield are being challenged by Jonathan Shaw, MP for Chatham and Aylesford.

Royal Mail has proposed to close the post office in agreement with the sub-postmaster. But Mr Shaw said: "I remain to be convinced that we don't need a post office there. I think we do."

He stressed: "I am not convinced that customer numbers have fallen dramatically, nor am I convinced that alternatives have been properly considered by the Royal Mail."

Mr Shaw has written to the chief executive of Royal Mail and the chief executive of Tesco, to ask if the post office could be moved into the neighbouring supermarket.

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said: "We wouldn't comment on that, it's pure throwing ideas in the pot. There are just too many post offices with too few customers at the moment."

A spokesman for Tesco said: "It would be unusual but we will give it serious consideration and see what we can do. But we can't give any promises."

The closure of Lunsford Park Post Office has not yet been finalised but if it were to close, the nearest available post office would be in Martin Square, Larkfield.