CHARLTON Marshall people will vote with their feet on Saturday against plans to close their post office counter.

Villagers will take to the streets in a protest march to the next nearest post office not threatened by closure.

Elderly and disabled people will be among those setting out on the two-mile journey to the main postal branch in the Tabernacle area of Blandford.

Bob Walter, the MP for North Dorset, will lead the march, which he believes will help villagers get their message across.

"This will be really effective in highlighting not only the difficulty of getting to the nearest alternative, but the sheer volume of people that will be using it, with the closure of the Salisbury Road and Blandford Camp branches as well," said Mr Walter.

The North Dorset MP paid tribute to the strength of opposition among villagers and thanked those who had written to him in support of the branch.

"The response of the people of Charlton Marshall to this attempt at closure has been strong - not surprising given that this isn't the first time the parish have fought and won the battle against the closure of this sub-post office," said Mr Walter.

The tiny counter in the parish rooms of St Mary's Church was opened in 1993 following the closure of the village shop and sub-post office.

Ruby Cooper, 76, said she was reliant on the goodwill of neighbours for transport and would be unable to travel to Blandford alone.

"The village post office is very important to me. I buy stamps to write to the few remaining members of my family in Gibraltar," said Mrs Cooper.

"My neighbours are very good to me, and will be going on the march in my place.

"If it wasn't for the post office, I wouldn't get to meet anybody. They give us a meal once a month and it gives me a reason to get out," she added.