A temporary post office has closed requiring urgent repairs leaving 40,000 residents without a central service.

The mobile building in Gladstone Road car park, which opened in June last year, was introduced as a temporary measure while Post Office Ltd considered options for a permanent site.

But customers looking to post their goods will now have to travel to Seasalter, Tankerton and Swalecliffe until further notice.

On behalf of the Save Whitstable Crown Post Office campaign group, Julie Wassmer said: "Residents are very disappointed that Whitstable is now without a post office service since the mobile building has been closed for health and safety reasons.

"Only today someone contacted me to ask who at Post Office Ltd they could complain to while describing the service as not fit for purpose.

"I'm inclined to agree since I understand the temporary service should have been for two mobile bases with five counters and we were provided instead with only one mobile building with two counters.

"Perhaps the company think that if it runs down what little service we have, we will be happy to accept a franchise? If so it should think again."

Post Office spokesman Suzette Rabout said: “We would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of the Whitstable Post Office which is currently housed in a mobile building.

"This is due to health and safety reasons while urgent repairs are made to the flooring.

"We are working hard to restore services to the area as soon as possible.

"In the meantime customers can access Post Office services at any branch with Tankerton and Seasalter post offices being the closest alternatives.”