Residents were celebrating today after they faced off against the Post Office and won.

People on the Woodgrange estate in Southend launched a petition when they heard the Post Office was considering closing its branch in Woodgrange Drive.

The Post Office has now relented and announced the Woodgrange Drive branch would remain open after a consultation revealed the strength of feeling.

Customers of the branch in North Road were not so lucky - the Post Office announced it would be the last post office to close in Southend as part of its network reinvention programme.

Woodgrange Tenants' Association chairwoman Marie Phillips said the decision to keep the post office open was a result of their petition, which was signed by more than 1,000 residents.

She said: "This is excellent news. It's nice to know they do listen to the consumers. It will make such a difference, especially for elderly people living on the estate. They would've had to walk an awful long way otherwise."

As a result of the Post Office's programme, six post offices closed last in September and another three branches will follow shortly. It is not yet known when the North Road branch will close.

More in today's Evening Echo.