Plaid Cymru has criticised the South Pembrokeshire MP for backing the rash of post office closures in a Commons vote this week - despite campaigning to keep them open just months ago.

"I am extremely disappointed that so little support was given to the motion to stop these plans," Nerys Evans, Plaid AM and ex-sub-postmistress said.

"I am sure residents in Pembrokeshire, who are worried about the future of their post offices, will not be happy to see their local MP voting to force them out of business.

" Plaid Cymru MPs are asking to suspend the closures until the effects are known and issues associated with this have been reassessed. Nearly 282 branches have closed in the last six years in Wales.

However, the Labour MP for Carmarthen west and south Pembrokeshire voted against the motion, and also voted for an amendment commending the government for its post office rationalisation.

Mr Ainger defended his decision, saying: "I voted for a package which will sustain a network of 11,500 post offices, which is supported by the National Federation of Sub-postmasters - private business people who run 97% of the Post Office network.

This package was announced over 10 months ago and means the tax payer will give £1.7 billion to the Post Office up to 2011, with £150 million a year in direct support to the network.

"We need to build on the success of the outreach pilot schemes in south Pembrokeshire, where post office services are delivered in a range of ways using community halls, pubs, shops and direct to customers' homes.

Elsewhere there are mobile post offices, some incorporated in mobile libraries. "That is the future for a viable post office service, not hiding your head in the sand, hoping the problem will go away."

"The closure programme should be immediately stopped, and time should be given to explore how Post Offices can develop so that they remain an integral part of our communities," Nerys Evans concluded.