Branches which will close in January are Brook Street, Hill Avenue, Old Somerby and Colston Bassett.

Allington, Barkston, Brant Broughton, Castle Bytham, Folkingham, Rippingale, South Witham and Woolsthorpe branches will all be replaced with an "outreach solution", although Post Office has not specified what these will be yet. They could be a mobile service or one run from other premises such as pubs or shops.

Hundreds of protestors joined the Journal's Hands Off campaign and took part in protest marches, signed on-line petitions and even held mock funerals for their Post Office branches during a six-week public consultation that ended last month.

Their protests were supported by South Kesteven District Council, Lincolnshire County Council and politicians.

Coun Ray Wootten, who campaigned to keep Brook Street Post Office open, said: "It will be a devastating blow to all the elderly residents that rely on the services provided by Brook Street.

"It is quite clear that Post Office has not listened to residents' concerns and protests. Another one of our British institutions gone."

During the consultation Post Office received 7,100 responses and attended more than 20 meetings with campaigners, including a contingent from Friends of Rippingale Post Office.

Post Office will close or replace 86 branches in the East Midlands from January.

Network development manager Mark Partington said: "These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly.

"We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation.

"We believe the amended plan announced today offers our customers across the East Midlands area the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future."

Only two of the 88 East Midlands branches originally proposed for closure have been saved - Ryhall Road in Stamford and Melton Road in West Bridgford. Consequently, Post Office has now proposed two further branches for closure in Derbyshire.

Keep checking back here for more updates and reaction throughout the day.

What do you think of Post Office's decision to close or replace all of the threatened branches? Will this make your life a misery or do you think Post Office is right to close unprofitable branches? Click here to e-mail us.