An Aberdeenshire town's post office is to be replaced by a mobile outreach service.

The Post Office confirmed its decision to replace Cuminestown post office, a month after the public consultation ended.

Local MP Alex Salmond told the Banffshire Journal: "This is a disappointing and backward decision by Post Office Ltd.

"Despite the public outcry against the plans to reduce services in the villages to only 12 hours per week from a van, Post Office Ltd has carried on regardless.

"This is at a time when the Westminster Government should be doing all it can to support rural communities, especially in the current economic climate.

"After the first consultation, both communities were offered substantially greater opening hours as part of a partnership service which would have seen the dedicated post office close. Now the post offices are still closing, and instead, residents are being left with a mere 12 hours a week service.

"We cannot forget that post offices provide a lifeline local service, and these closures and service reductions undermine both the economic and, in many areas, the social heart of communities."

The plans are for a mobile post office to visit the village five days a week, Monday to Friday, and park at Manse Terrace, adjacent to Glebe Gardens.

The site has been changed from the Commercial Hotel after feedback from customers who felt the parking at the hotel site was insufficient.

There has been no announcement on the start date for the new service and at present the branch remains open.

The Post Office has stated that customers will be able to access the same range of services from the mobile unit that they do from the branch.

They will still be able to collected benefits in cash, buy travel insurance, car tax and foreign currency.