The village shop and post office in Fyfield will close within weeks and the one in High Ongar is under threat.

The shock decision to axe Fyfield Stores less than a year after it reopened has dismayed residents.

And, coupled with uncertainty at High Ongar, it brings into question the whole future of such businesses, often the focus and lifeblood of village life.

Local Tory MP Eric Pickles said: "Village stores like this are part of the bricks and mortar which hold a community together. We are in danger of creating a sub class in rural communities which is denied vital resources and have transport problems, have to travel further to shops and difficulties in obtaining advice.''

Fyfield's death sentence was announced by Willingale farmer Mark Wilkinson, who reprieved the shop last spring.

He said:"I said at the time that people must support it but, unfortunately, they haven't. I have been losing about £300 a week since then and I just cannot continue to sustain losses like this.

"It's my local shop, too, so I've a double cause for regret. When it reopened there were a lot of promises by people but the fact is that takings have dropped by a half.

"If it were losing £50 a week I might be able to keep it going but the regular shortfall in addition to start-up costs of £15,000 means I've no alternative."

The Stores, formerly run by Gerry Zaltzman, first closed last winter.

Mr Wilkinson, 40, who also runs a shop in Ongar, re-launched it and appointed former Fyfield beat bobby Bob Higgs as manager.

But when the existing stock is sold the shop, which also employs three part-time assistants plus Saturday staff will close probably for the last time.

Over at High Ongar, proprietor John Gowland feels he is under threat like hundreds of sub postmasters throughout the country. New Government regulations allowing benefits to be paid directly into bank accounts are due to be introduced in January 2003.

Retired finance director Mr Gowland said: "Between a third and a half of my customers come in to cash pensions, family allowance and other payments. Without them it would be very difficult to make ends meet and we'd have to close."

Mr Gowland, has also been operating the post office at Stondon Massey three days a week since the shop there closed. That would also be affected and a total of three part-time jobs would go.

He is drawing up a petition to send to Mr Pickles and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters.

"All I hope is that a solution will be found before it's too late," he added.

The federation has described the proposals as "a disaster for people who are drawing their benefits and pensions and for those who want their post offices that are closed."

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