Loyal customers will sadly watch the shutters of an old Harrow post office be pulled down forever today (Thursday).

The Old Post Office in High Street, Harrow on the Hill, has served the community for more than 50 years, including 800 boys boarding at Harrow School, who regularly collect food parcels and send letters home.

Postmaster Asokan Ashok, 46, is thanking all those who have used the branch but says he will continue to run the premises as a shop selling food and newspapers.

The office was the victim of Post Office Ltd's decision in May to close 162 branches across London.

It means residents and workers, along with pupils and staff from Harrow School, will be forced to descend on the next nearest post office, in College Road, Harrow.

Mr Ashok, who has managed The Old Post Office for two years, said: "It is a landmark here on the hill. It has stood here for more than 50 years and is pivotal to the community.

"Running the post office was a great advantage to get to know the many lovely people who are here."

Mr Ashok is married to Uma, who also works in the shop, and has two teenaged children.

He is hoping the community will continue to support the shop once the post offices closes or he may be forced to move completely.

He said: "We are very optimistic about the future. It is going to be hard but everyone is being very supportive. The post office was our livelihood but we have a few ideas up our sleeves, like setting up a dry cleaning service to try and increase funds."

The Observer's Save Our Post Offices campaign encouraged readers to take part in the official consultation process, and more than 500 wrote to the newspaper expressing their support.

Despite the massive public outcry four other post offices were also earmarked for closure in the borough.

The Revd Tim Gosden, of St Mary's Church, said: "The post office has always been the heartbeat of our community. It has been an intrinsic part of our life. Tragically this is yet another one of the services being cut. The elderly will miss it the most. Followed by the school. Followed by small businesses. Everyone will feel the pinch."

Nick Shryane, bursar at Harrow School, said: "The school is entirely convinced that closing this branch will worsen the quality of life of several thousand residents - a great many of whom are children and elderly people. It will promote inefficiency and incur costs for local businesses and the school."