FURIOUS campaigners bidding to save seven threatened post offices in Blaenau Gwent heckled a postal chief yesterday.

Placard-waving protesters gathered outside Blaenau Gwent council's offices in Ebbw Vale, then packed out the public gallery in the council chamber at a special meeting called to discuss the proposed closures in Ebbw Vale and Tredegar.

Post office chief Dave Barrett was lambasted by councillors who accused him of having "no social conscience", and heckled him from the public gallery.

At yesterday's meeting, Ebbw Vale councillor John Rogers told Mr Barrett he would close the post offices at his peril.

"We are not putting up with it," the councillor said. "Post Offices are the lifeblood of this community, we need them and we are not going to give them up."

But a defiant Mr Barrett refused to extend the public consultation period over the closures.

Mr Barrett said: "Extending the consultation period would just provide more time to go over the same ground. It would not make any difference." The six-week public consultation period is due to end on December 16.