KENT County Council has ruled out taking over and running post offices that are being forced to shut across the county.

Council chiefs say they have no intention of following in the footsteps of Essex County Council, which is to offer a potential lifeline to about 15 branches earmarked for closure in a bid to stem multi-million pound losses.

Medway Council also said it has no plans to take over any of the four branches closing in Medway, but stopped short of ruling it out completely.

Cllr Roger Gough (Con), KCC's cabinet member for regeneration, said there were no similar plans for any of the 56 branches being closed across the county.

He said one of the reasons was because Kent had been the first area in the country to be hit by the closure programme and many were already either shut or about to shut.

Cllr Gough said: "We are in a different situation to Essex. In many, equipment has already been taken out or have already shut, so it is not frankly a runner.

"We did go after the Post Office to get them to share commercial information with us but it did not, although it has with Essex."

But Cllr Rodney Chambers, leader of Medway Council, said: "We will look closely at what is being put forward by Essex County Council and review the situation accordingly."

However, he added: "Medway Council has no plans to impose extra responsibilities on Medway Council tax payers to subsidise what is, and should continue to be a government-supported service.

"We always look at options to maintain the post offices but this should not be at any extra cost to the council taxpayer."

The widespread closures are part of efforts by Post Office Ltd to stem multi-million pound losses it says it is suffering each year.