The hunt is on to find a new post office to serve Canvey.
Time is running out for the island as the old branch in Furtherwick Road is due to close in just over a month's time.
However, Post Office bosses have vowed to keep a main post office on the island and are busy searching for someone to take over and run it.
The counter at Martin's is due to close its shutters on Monday, July 28, following the resignation of the present subpostmaster, TM Retail, which is withdrawing the use of the newsagents as a post office.
Locals are concerned they will be left without a post office.
Maureen Gecsek, who lives on the island, said: "Every shop I go into, there are petitions to keep the post office open.
"People are terrified when it closes there will be nothing to replace it. The elderly are especially worried."
George Cooper, head of the area for the Post Office, said: "The situation is outside our control. TM Retail no longer wishes to provide Post Offices services - that is their decision. Since receiving their notice we have been working to find a replacement subpostmaster but, to date, without any success.
"We want to reassure all our loyal customers in Canvey we will continue to search for a new subpostmaster to take over the provision of Post Office services in the area."
Businessmen with suitable island premises for a post office, can write to Agency Recruitment, Human Resources, Freepost NWW 1675A, Salford, Manchester, M5 9JB.
Published Wednesday, June 25, 2003
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