IT could be the end of the road for the Broom postmistress awarded a certificate in May to mark ten years of service to the Royal Mail.

This follows fears that the rural post office could be marked for closure.

Postmistress Sue Betteridge said: "I've heard the Royal Mail are announcing changes soon and I wouldn't be surprised if they close this post office under their new plans.

"There seems little point of a village post office - the TV licence has gone to the supermarkets and road tax can be bought online. Village life is not what is used to be. People only come back here to sleep."

The 51-year-old, who has run the post office since 1995, added: "Villagers don't care whether there's a post office here or not.

"I've been here 30 years and I used to know everyone. Now if you walk down the street, I couldn't name one person. Urban immigrants, that's what people here are."

Communications officer Tom Prendergast said: "It costs the Post Office £3 million a week to run the rural network. Most rural post offices are loss-making for the organisation.

"We're pleased at the Government's funding of £150 million a year to the Post Office to provide rural services. This agree- ment, the Social Network Payment, operates until April 2008 and covers the basic costs of this portion of the rural network."

He added: "We're awaiting a decision from the Government on our report on providing future rural services, but have no indication when it will be made.

"I can understand the concerns of the sub-postmistress at Broom Post Office, but we can't be drawn into speculation on the future of the rural network."