"Real concerns" are being raised over the future of the post office, according to an industry representative.

Concerns over the future of the post office are "real", according to the National Federation of Subpostmasters.

The body's general secretary, George Thomson, has claimed that more needs to be done to encourage people to use the network, which has been hit by a number of site closures in recent months.

In an interview with the Financial Mail, he outlined how a report revealed the profitability of the service has dropped, as two-thirds of postmasters claimed their income had fallen or remained the same across the past 12 months.

"The branch network could be a thriving and profitable operation, but this can only be achieved if work is channelled across post office counters," he added.

Consumers across London may have been forced to seek post office alternatives last week, as members of the Communication Workers Union held a strike against proposals for the future of Royal Mail.

Article Added: 13/07/2009 09:22:29