"Yet again we feel our comments have been ignored but we shall try to do everything we can to support the communities which will be affected by these closures," said County council cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Geoff Carlile.

The Post Office held a six-week consultation asking for views on its plans to close the branches as part of a national review which will see 2,500 post offices across the country being put forward for closure.

The county council has long campaigned to keep rural and community post offices open.

As part of the consultation, the county council sent in detailed responses to the Post Office, commenting on each proposed closure and giving reasons why it should stay open.

Despite this, the Post Office announced last week it was to press ahead with closing the five High Peak branches.

They are:
* Birch Vale – Spinner Bottom, Birch Vale
* Dove Holes – Methodist Church, Buxton Road, Dove Holes
* Peak Forest – Village Store, Church Lane, Peak Forest
* Tintwistle – 13, New Road, Tintwistle
* Town End – Market Steet, Chapel-en-le-Frith.

They come on top of the closures announced earlier this year across Derbyshire, when the council's recommendations were also not heeded.

The detailed response over the High Peak closures included particular concern over the Tintwistle branch, which currently carries out more than 400 transactions a week and the fact that one in seven residents are elderly.

Concerns were also raised over the post office in Dove Holes which was only opened two years ago as a result of a local community initiative and the possible impact of the closure of the Peak Forest branch on its general store.

The council also noted the closure of the Birch Vale branch would put increased pressure on the remaining services in Hayfield and New Mills.

Councillor Carlile said: "The Post Office's plans in the High Peak have not taken full account of the needs of communities affected.

"While we welcome the fact that 24 post offices in Glossopdale, Buxton, New Mills and Whaley Bridge will stay open under these proposals, there is real concern for the economic and social implications which will result from the loss of the five post offices which currently serve the smaller communities in the surrounding areas."