To the 5,000 residents of Tenby their local post office and store is a community lifeline, but for owners Vince and Fiona Malone it is a struggle to survive.

Their operation has become a labour of love without which the South West Wales harbour town and resort would wither and die.

So the couple, still reeling from April’s damaging National Insurance hikes, are dumbfounded branches like theirs could be axed.

Labour is currently consulting on whether to axe the need to keep at least 11,500 Post Offices open.

If it decides to withdraw the minimum branch requirement - introduced by the Tory-led coalition in 2010 after Labour oversaw thousands of cuts to the network in the previous decade - it would prove to be ruinous for communities across the UK.

Fiona, 53, said: “It feels as if there is just no recognition for the services we provide to the town.

“The nearest bank is a 30 minute drive away. If we were to close it would be absolutely devastating for the town. Like many other branches we are desperately needed by the community, many of whom don’t drive.

“We have been lobbying the Government, saying if you want us to survive then you need to give us something back. We have had to swallow NI rises and business rates and other costs keep rising and more are in the pipeline. “We seem to be clobbered at every turn.

“Every day is a struggle to survive even though we are the heart of the community.

The Doomsday scenario of further Post Office closures would be another nail in the coffin for the battered high street, forcing people to travel further to pay bills, withdraw cash and send letters and parcels, torpedoing communities and marginalising the elderly who rely on the network for salvation. It would also see thousands of postmasters and postmistresses forced out of work despite loyally serving their customers, in some cases for decades.

The counter at Tenby Stores and Post Office , which employs 14 staff, opens between 0800-2100 Monday to Saturday and has become priceless since the last bank in town closed in 2023.

Vince, 59, said: “A lot of Post Offices are under huge stress.

“We’re certainly not doing it to be rich, we do it for the service of our community. Most postmasters don’t earn enough to support themselves let alone employ staff. It is tough and I get very cross at eye-watering business rates because we are providing a service and if we weren’t here the town would suffer.

“We see every day the positive impact we have on people’s lives and it’s incredible. We wholeheartedly support the Daily Express campaign.

“Post offices are needed now more than ever and there needs to be a grown up discussion about the needs of communities and needs of customers. They are the reason we do this.”

* Is your Post Office under threat or undervalued? Email giles.sheldrick@reachplc.com