The North Lancing branch, in Mill Road, will close its doors for the final time on Tuesday, March 11 despite the efforts of protesters, who campaiged tirelessly but in vain to save the branch.

Local campaigner Adrienne Stevenson said: "We have decided not to lose our post office quietly.

"We would like future generations to know that the historic loss of the post office was not wanted by our community.

"We realise we can do nothing further now to change the decision, but we have decided to have a funeral instead."

Mourners will march to the post office along The Street, North Lancing, before laying a wreath at 1pm.

Mrs Stevenson added: "We feel it is a historic moment – there is evidence that there has been a post office in North Lancing since 1879, and soon it will be gone."

The North Lancing branch is housed in Milldene Stores, which will remain open following the closure.

Marches and a petition organised by East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton, together with the Herald's Save Our Post Offices campaign, were all in vain.

Speaking to the Herald, Mr Loughton said: "This is a disappointing end to what has been a very shoddily-run exercise by the Post Office.

"There has been a working post office on this site, serving the community of North Lancing, since the 19th century, and in the space of a sham six-week consultation the Post Office has unilaterally decided that local people no longer need their local post office.

"North Lancing residents are right to mark this sad occasion in such a high-profile way and exercise their contempt for the complete travesty by an organisation that now calls itself 'The People's Post Office'.

"I am still pursuing appeals through Postwatch and working with the county council, but clearly the winds are against us."