Ahsen Omar, the man behind the counter, claims such a move will ''kill the community''.

Elderly and disabled users plus parents with young children are among those who could soon be forced to travel into town to carry out important business.

Apart from the range of postal services that would be hit, collection of pensions, topping up gas and electricity plus withdrawing cash would no longer be possible at the popular community hub.

Buying lottery tickets could only continue if a special agreement were reached.

Ahsen (38), who works at Grangepans P.O. with his postmaster dad Mohammed Rafique (65), said: "It will be a domino effect – one thing goes and everything else goes with it. It's really going to inconvenience people."

The branch, which has been in their family for 11 years, opened 30 years ago in response to community demand.

It faces the chop, and the two men risk losing their jobs, as the East Pier Street and Newtown counters lie less than a mile away.

But Ahsen said: "It's not taking into account the area behind this – Grahamsdyke Road, the Muirhouses, the industrial estate."

Plus there is a potential influx of residents with the future ING development.

Under government plans up to 2500 branches across the UK will shut.

A closure decision for Grangepans would be taken in November at the earliest.

Sally Buchanan, Post Office network development manager, said: "Post Office Ltd's aim is to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the minimum access criteria set by the UK Government."

A six-week consultation is now under way and local politicians are calling on locals to get behind the campaign to keep Grangepans open.

A survey is being delivered in the area by Labour politicians to identify those who would be hardest hit.

Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie said: "I urge local residents to register their opposition by completing our survey and writing directly to the post office."

Michael Connarty, MP for Linlithgow and Falkirk East, said: "The Post Office can be influenced by people showing that closure would cause hardship or if they have overlooked prospects for local business."

David Kerr (53) has a heart condition and lives just 200 yards from the Post Office.

He said: "I think it's terrible. My mum's 73 and I can't see her going into town to get her pension."

To add your voice to the campaign, write by September 29 to: Sally Buchanan, c/o National Consultation Team, Freepost consultation team.

You can also e-mail consultation@postoffice.co.uk, or phone 08457 22 33 44.