THE impending closures of five postal delivery offices have been delayed indefinitely, the Echo can reveal.

Royal Mail planned to shut its bases in Shoebury and Great Wakering on Monday, followed by Leigh on March 4 and Rochford and Canewdon on March 25.

Their services would then be amalgamated into the company’s central branch in Southend’s Short Street.

However, James Duddridge, the Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East, told the Echo those closures had now been put on ice.

He added: “I have received confirmation that Shoebury and Great Wakering delivery offices will not close on February 11, as originally planned and publicly announced.

“The closures of Rochford and Leigh delivery offices have also been delayed.

“I am meeting the chief executive of Royal Mail in Parliament next week and no delivery office in the Southend area will close prior to this meeting.”