GAZETTE & HERALD: SUB Postmaster for Pewsham Post Office, Howard Greenman said he is waiting for confirmation from Post Office Ltd before he responds to claims he was planning to sell off his branch all along.

He has refused to give his side of the story until the consultation period is over because he claims a contract he has with the Post Office forbids him from doing so.

But Post Office Ltd has hit back, saying it is not stopping Mr Greenman from talking.

"I very much want to talk but Simon Smith, retail line manager at the Post Office, has told me I can't," Mr Greenman said.

He insisted he wants to keep the Pewsham branch open. "I've had a fair bit I've wanted to say so I asked the Post Office for a letter of confirmation that no action will be taken against me if I speak."

Mr Greenman was reluctant to say anything further at the time we went to press because he is away at the Conservative party conference in Bournemouth and doesn't know if the letter of confirmation has arrived.

But a Post Office spokesman said: "There is no contractual obligation to stop sub postmasters talking to anyone about the closure proposals.

"We don't have a problem with it at all. What action can we possibly take? We can't sack him for talking.''

Mr Greenman has pledged to send a letter to every house on the Pewsham estate when the consultation period is over, telling people what went on.