Responding to a government consultation about the future of the post office system, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has today called for a "coherent" strategy that considers the impact of potential closures.

The FSB said that current policies of giving money to the network while simultaneously cutting services is "unsustainable" and has asked for changes to the approach, including making high street banking facilities available through post offices.

Clive Davenport, FSB trade and industry chairman, admitted the need for restructuring but said "there needs to be a much greater understanding of the impact on the economy and local communities of widespread post office closures".

"Small businesses generate over half of UK GDP [gross domestic product] and many of them rely on the post office for a variety of services," he added.

An FSB survey found that 82 per cent of small businessowners thought that the closures would have a "significant impact" on their business.