Rippingale, Folkingham and Castle Bytham post offices could all permanently shut in January but residents in Rippingale have formed a protest group and launched a petition, which already has 200 signatures.

The post office in Rippingale is part of the village shop, run by Simon Deane, who said: "For the sustainability of Rippingale it has to stay open."

Managers of the Post Office plan to close hundreds of post offices to improve profitability, but Mr Deane said: "Our post office is getting busier month by month."

In July Rippingale Primary School closed and Phil Rippingale, of the newly-formed Friends of Rippingale Post Office, said: "The closure of our local school has put more people on the road already.

"The worst thing is where this leaves the elderly and those without their own transport.

"Where and when are they going to get their pensions, pay their council tax and utility bills, buy stamps and send their letters and parcels? There are several businesses in the village which rely on post office services."

Jim Latham, also a member of the group, said the group's e-petition has been approved by Downing Street for its website.

The group is appealing to residents to write to Post Office Ltd, the Prime Minister and opposition leader David Cameron. A public meeting is planned.

Staff at Folkingham Post Office declined to comment but Jenny Appleby, from Pointon, who regularly visits Folkingham, said: "It is the hub of this big village and I think it should be kept open."

Jan Hansen, from Folkingham, said: "It's in the community where people meet on a daily basis. It will be a negative and a sad loss of a valuable service."

Post Office Ltd has proposed a mobile service called Outreach to replace the post offices. It would serve Rippingale for up to 13 hours a week and Folkingham for 11 hours.

Mark Partington, the company's development manager for the East Midlands, said: "We believe these proposals offer the best prospect for a sustainable way forward for post office services."

But Mr Deane said: "During the course of a day we have 300 customers with 50 per cent of them using the post office. Closure poses the threat of losing our shop."

There will be a six-week consultation period before a final decision is made.

To sign the e-petition visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Rippingale.