Hundreds of people have signed a petition launched to save a post office that is "at the heart of the community".

Richard Rowland, who lives in Cricklewood, is fighting to keep Cricklewood post office, in Cricklewood Broadway, open.

The branch is among 38 branches across Greater London and 115 in the UK threatened with closure as the Post Office seeks to cut costs.

All those at risk of closure are 'crown' branches - those the Post Office operates directly, rather than offices based within other shops. Branches in Golders Green, Barnet, Kilburn and Hampstead are also under threat.

Mr Rowland's petition has received more than 588 signatures and follows similar petitions by Barnet's Labour Group to save Golders Green post office and Barnet post office.

He said: "This post office is at the heart of our community, providing essential services that so many of us rely on.

"Losing it would hurt not just our local economy but also the spirit of Cricklewood."

Signatories also urged the Post Office not to sell the much-valued service.

One, Joan Butler, said: "It is absolutely disgusting that after losing the banks we are now losing post offices. What are we going to do especially the elderly, and disabled?" 

Others said they regularly use the post office for parcel collections and returns as well as stamps.

Savita Ballur said: "The high street post office is critical for an ageing population and in times of loneliness.

"Every time I have gone, the Cricklewood post office is busy and the staff super helpful and kind. You are destroying the community by closing this critical space."

Cheryl Parkin said she was signing the petition as she uses the post office three times a week and would have nowhere to pay for her electric and gas or send her parcels or letters.

Alan Carter added: "Closing the Cricklewood post office makes no sense - except to a business that seeks short term gains from selling the site for development."

A Post Office spokesperson said: “We are considering a range of options to reduce our central costs. This includes considering the future of our remaining Directly Managed Branches (DMBs), which are loss-making.

"We have long held a publicly-stated ambition to move to a fully franchised network and we are in dialogue with the unions about future options for the DMBs.”