THERE were almost tears as a much-loved sub-post master closed her branch for the last time.

Jaspal Dusanjh has worked at the Brompton Post Office for nearly 20 years.

Due to nationwide cut-backs she was told by the Post Office to shut up shop for good and she left work as the sub-post master for Brompton for the last time on Friday.

It was an emotional day for Mrs Dusanjh.

She said: "It’s really sad, I can’t believe we are closing after all this time. I will miss all our regular customers who rely on us – most of them don't even realise we are closing.

"I have lots of happy memories here, it’s such a shame."

It was also a sad day for Helen Williams who has been the clerk of the post office for 13 years.

She said: "We’re very unhappy to be losing the post office, it’s very upsetting. We shouldn’t be closing."

The closure will result not only in the loss of Mrs Dusanjh’s livelihood but in the loss of a much-valued community service.

Regular customer Jim Cowlen, from Melville Court, Brompton, was angered by the closure. He said: "It is absolutely ridiculous. The Post Office is completely hypocritical. Their advertising says they are the People’s Post Office – that is complete rubbish and this closure proves it."

The closure also brings to an end 170 years of history.

There has been a form of post office in Brompton since 1838 when a stationer called Mrs Edge opened a shop for despatching mail.

It was a historic moment when Sharon Wall, from St Mary’s Island, was the last person to send a letter from the branch.

She said: "I can’t believe I’ll be the last person to ever send a letter from Brompton. "I use this post office two or three times a week for business. It provides a great service and shouldn’t be closing."

The Brompton Post Office is to be sold. Customers wanting to use postal services will now need to go the new post office in WHSmith, High Street Gillingham, or the Pentagon shopping centre, Chatham.