WIs throughout the country have been lobbying their MEPs in response to a new threat to existing postal services.

Despite notice of a new European Commission Directive - on the further opening to competition for postal services - arising just around the Christmas break, groups everywhere were galvanised into action.

The British Post Office currently has a monopoly on the collection and delivery of mail under 350 grammes in weight.

But the European Commission is proposing to open up postal services to further competition in January, 2003, by amending Directive 97/67/EC.

New proposals include reducing the postage weight limit reserved by member states to their universal providers (in the UK, the Post Office) from the current level of 350 grammes to 50 grammes.

The WI movement feels a reduction to this level would undermine the UK Post Office's profitability and result in a drop in income that would seriously impair its ability to continue to fund vital services.

Recognising the invaluable role which post offices play in many communities, any action which could gradually erode this facility is of concern to the WI.

"Our Post Office is vital to our village," commented Staveley press officer Fiona Cartmell.