It is among 50 branches in Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire that have fallen victim to the latest round of cuts.

It appeared in a list of those earmarked for closure that was accidentally published on the internet in 2007.

And with no letters of protest and dwindling business, the couple who own the branch say they are not surprised by the decision.

Postmistress Sikhvinder Sandhar has run the business with her husband Hardev since 1999. Mr Sandhar said the couple learned of the decision on Wednesday but have not been given a final date to close the office.

Warwick and Leamington MP James Plaskitt said he was disappointed but not surprised by the closure.

He added: “All that can be said is that it was doing very little business. The postmistress wanted to get out.

“I have received no letters about West Street whereas I received a stack of correspondence about the Milverton branch.

“In those circumstances it is very difficult to see how it could be saved from the closure programme.”

Public consultation on the closures ended on August 4. Services will be provided through a network of 299 remaining branches.

The Post Office says this follows the national accessibility criteria introduced by the government and ensures that 99 per cent of people will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile by road distance of an alternative office.

Warwick branches in Cape Road, Smith Street and Emscote Road were closed in early 2004.

Mark Partington is the Post Office’s network development manager for Birmingham Coventry and Warwickshire. He said: “These are difficult decisions which have not been taken lightly.

“We have considered very carefully all the comments made during the public consultation. We believe that the amended plan announced today offers our customers across Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire the best prospect for a sustainable network in the future.”

Full details of the decisions and the issues raised during public consultation are available by visiting www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange, by writing to Post Office Ltd at Freepost Consultation Team (no stamp needed) or by emailing:

consultation@postoffice.co.uk