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Post offices earmarked for closure could be taken over by a local council, it has been reported.
Essex County Council is understood to be the first authority to enter negotiations with the Post Office to take over the running of some of the 32 threatened branches in its region, the BBC said.
The council is negotiating a buy-out price from the Post Office and told the broadcaster some of the branches could be saved within months.
The Post Office announced the closure of thousands of branches in 2006 in a bid to cut losses of millions of pounds a week.
It says it is willing to work with other local authorities on similar takeovers.
Essex Council leader Lord Hanningfield told the BBC he was "delighted" the council might be able to save some post offices under its "unique and groundbreaking" deal.
He said: "There is a huge amount of work still to do and we will now be conducting our own assessment on the merits and financial viability of each post office, together with the needs of the communities that they serve.
"Because of this, it is too early to mention specific branches at this stage."
Essex County Council moved to allay fears council tax payers could subsidise what has been a loss-making business by stating it believes it can make a profit by combining postal services with council services.
It hopes each branch it runs will break even within three years
Essex County Council is understood to be the first authority to enter negotiations with the Post Office to take over the running of some of the 32 threatened branches in its region, the BBC said.
The council is negotiating a buy-out price from the Post Office and told the broadcaster some of the branches could be saved within months.
The Post Office announced the closure of thousands of branches in 2006 in a bid to cut losses of millions of pounds a week.
It says it is willing to work with other local authorities on similar takeovers.
Essex Council leader Lord Hanningfield told the BBC he was "delighted" the council might be able to save some post offices under its "unique and groundbreaking" deal.
He said: "There is a huge amount of work still to do and we will now be conducting our own assessment on the merits and financial viability of each post office, together with the needs of the communities that they serve.
"Because of this, it is too early to mention specific branches at this stage."
Essex County Council moved to allay fears council tax payers could subsidise what has been a loss-making business by stating it believes it can make a profit by combining postal services with council services.
It hopes each branch it runs will break even within three years
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