RESIDENTS and traders say their community has been hit hard following the closure of their post office.

Dresden Post Office in Carlisle Street was one of 26 in the region which were earmarked for closure under a nationwide review last year.

Despite a petition and warnings that community life would deteriorate, it closed in August.

Royal Mail justified the decision by saying there were other branches within a mile at Longton and Normacot.

Since then, at least one shop on the same street has shut and residents say they are struggling to travel to other post offices.

Beadnell Grove resident Maureen Hancock, aged 67, has lived in Dresden for 44 years.

She said: "It has just been miserable around here since the post office shut.

"People either have to catch the bus to get to a post office or negotiate busy roads.

"There are always long queues at other post offices."

Ronald Worsdall, aged 78, of Russell Street, said: "It is a shame the post office shut because we have to travel to Normacot now.

"Most of the people who live around here are elderly and they can't be standing around waiting for buses."

The street is home to a number of outlets including a pub, hairdressers, restaurant, a shop selling motoring items and a convenience store.

Whittaker's Greengrocers, which also served takeaway sandwiches, shut shortly after the post office.

The Oatcake Kitchen and Cafe has picked up some of its trade but owner Sue Bates said turnover has dropped 15 per cent since the post office closed.

She said: "People have no reason to come round here any more.

"The post office was the centre of the community and that has been taken away from us now.

"Carlisle Street always used to be busy and people would stop to talk to each other but that has gone.

"The post office closed in August and by late September our turnover was at least 15 per cent down."

Peter Colclough, owner of Carlisle Street's Bargain Booze, said his family had had a shop there for the past 32 years and never expected the area to change so much.

He said: "Pensioners used to go to the post office then go along Carlisle Street to pick up all the bits and bobs they needed.

"They've been shopping in town since the post office shut because that's where they have to go to get their pension. We are all affected by the closure of the post office.

"The shop up the road shut only a few weeks after the post office went and a lot of the trade has dwindled away. We're the only convenience shop here now."

Lilian Dodd, secretary of Dresden Residents' Association, said: "The closure of the post office has ripped the heart out of our community.

"We desperately need businesses to come back to Dresden.

"Local facilities are very important to residents."