RESIDENTS are up in arms after Gourock’s only post office suddenly closed.

Several customers have been left high and dry after the Kempock Street office shut without warning on Wednesday.

A number of customers have contacted the Telegraph to say they have parcels left lying in the building – with no way of retrieving them.

Christine Morrison, 59, says she’s been trying to collect her delivery since Tuesday after her postman left a note saying she could collect the parcel at the office.

She went down three times that day and was told it hadn’t arrived yet.

When Christine returned the next day she found the post office closed, with a notice on the door saying there had been a computer fault.

Christine added: “On Thursday the shutters were down and a notice said, ‘due to unforseen circumstances, the post office will be closed until further notice’.

“I called a number on the card which was a customer service centre in the North of England and they said the parcel is inside the Post Office and is nothing to do with them.

“They said the best thing I could do is contact the Tele!” The parcel contains decorative lights and Christine says she is angry after paying postage and packing for an item she still hasn’t received.

The closure of this ‘lifeline’ service has sparked outrage in the community as it means pensioners are now forced to travel to Greenock for post office services.

Christine, who lives with her husband John in Albert Road, said:“Gourock’s got quite an eldery population. There was no warning, just shutters down.” Local councillor Ronnie Ahlfeld says he been inundated with complaints and is demanding answers, He said: “It’s a lifeline service, so many people rely on it. When it was transferred from its previous location in the same street we were told it would run with extended hours but this has not happened. We need explanations.

“I have been inundated with calls from people asking if it’s permanently closed. It is really disgraceful that we now appear to have no local post office.

“Not so long ago we had four in Gourock, ones at Cardwell Bay, Midton, Shore St and Pierhead. We really must have a reliable service in the town.” Gourock mum Allison Black is another customer affected by the sudden closure.

She said: “When I saw the post office was closed I went to the sorting office in Knowe Road in Greenock.

“Initially they said my parcel wasn’t there, but in Glasgow. I called there and they said it was in Greenock, and then two hours later, the sorting office down here said they had it all along.

“Since the current postmaster took over in Gourock, the service has gone downhill.”