POST offices across the county that are facing the threat of closure are to learn their fate on Tuesday.

An announcement about which post offices could close as part of a wide-ranging review being carried out by Post Office Limited had been expected earlier this month.

But the news of which offices in Kent could be affected in the review that is likely to see 2,500 offices nationally being closed will now come on October 2.

Post bosses confirmed the date when they faced more questions from county councillors about their plans at a meeting of Kent County Council’s cross-party policy scrutiny committee.

KCC is spearheading a campaign aimed at limiting the impact of closures in the county, which will be one of the first areas in the country to be affected.

The council fears extensive closures could have a devastating impact on small communities.

As many as 59 of Kent’s 309 post offices could be in the firing line based on the 2,500 that Post Office Limited says are likely to be affected in its review, which is aimed at stemming million-pound losses.

Bosses summoned to answer questions about the review told councillors there was no hidden agenda behind choosing Kent as one of the first areas.

Meanwhile, Postwatch - the independent watchdog for postal services in the UK - said that petitions protesting about the review were not the best means of challenging closures.

Ray Holdstock told the committee it was more valuable for campaigns to be based around hard evidence and data about how a closure could impact on businesses and the community.

"One of the things that is not helpful is petitions. They are not going to help," he said.

Details of the closure plans will be available on the Post Office website, www.postoffice.co.uk

A spokesman said: "The proposed list of closures will not be absolutely final until the public consultation is completed. The announcement will only be a list of those we are proposing for closure."