Angry locals want answers over the sudden closure of a busy Paisley post office.

After the closure of the post office in Skye Crescent, Glenburn, pensioners will now have to travel miles to collect benefits, send mail and pay bills.

Scott Matthew who ran the business, which included his newsagent shop, insists that the economic downturn had left him with no alternative but to close.

Post Office Ltd bosses said they were shocked but were unable to stop the closure.

Jessie Creighton, 71, who is a volunteer with the Glenburn Credit Union, told the Paisley Daily Express: "This is shocking. Imagine something like this happening to old folk just before Christmas.

"I pay my gas bill and council tax in that post office but now I'll need to get the bus into the Piazza in Paisley town centre.

"I can use the buses okay but a lot of pensioners are not fit enough for that, so they'll be stuck."

Sarah Currie, 32, a member of Glenburn Tenants' and Residents' Association, added: "I use the post office for paying bills and organising recorded deliveries and things like that.

"The place is always busy and older people and those who have disabilities will struggle to walk further to somewhere else."

Most of the post office customers only found out about the closure on Wednesday when a notice was stuck to the front door.

Mr Matthew, apologised for any inconvenience the closure will cause.

He said: "It is to do with the credit crunch. The shop hasn't been doing so well."

A spokeswoman for Post Office Ltd said: "Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond Post Office Ltd's control, Skye Crescent post office will temporarily close.

"An internal investigation is ongoing and we are unable to comment further at this stage.

"Post Office Ltd would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused and assure our customers that we will seek to resume the service as quickly as possible."