ROYAL Mail is being urged to scrap plans to remove a parcel collection service after hundreds signed a petition against the move.

From Monday customers in Great Wakering who miss the postman will face a 12-mile round trip to the Royal Mail’s main depot in Short Street, Southend.

They had previously been able to pick up their parcels the following day at the branch in Great Wakering High Street.

More than 500 people have signed a petition to keep the service closer to home and James Duddridge, MP for Southend East and Rochford, is campaigning to stop the change taking place.

Rita Patel, postmistress at the High Street branch, said: “I’m happy to provide the service as for 20 years we’ve been here providing services for local people.

“Wewant to look after our customers and I’m not surprised 500 people have signed the petition, as this is an important service for them.”

Petitions were handed out to various businesses and outlets in the area with 560 people signing it in just five days last week.

Mr Duddridge has written to Royal Mail’s chief executive, Moya Greene, urging a rethink, and yesterday his aides met with staff from the postal service about the plans. An option put forward is for the items to go straight to the Great Wakering post office and stay there until collected – which a representative from Royal Mail is currently considering.

Mr Duddridge said: “I urge the local community to show their support for the campaign and sign the petitions that have been left with local businesses.

“The completed petitions will be sent to Moya Greene of the Royal Mail and hopefully, with the support of the local community, the decision will be overturned.”