A PROSPECTIVE deal to reopen the closed post office at Harrow on the Hill has collapsed, although Harrow School is still holding out hope of saving the business.

The former branch in High Street was one of 2,500 shut last year by Royal Mail, despite an Observer campaign to get the store off the doomed list.

It was then believed that a takeover could be agreed that would enable Harrow Council and Harrow School, whose pupils were frequent customers, to keep the branch running.

But Harrow on the Hill councillor Mark Versallion (Conservative), who led talks between the parties, revealed this week that the talks had ended fruitlessly.

He said: "Now that this last round of discussions has been completed, I have reluctantly concluded that it is a bridge too far."I was initially optimistic that we had found a way to reopen the post office and to reward the residents and businesses for their support. The costs demanded by the Post Office were just too large to justify.

"Money is tight for everyone at the moment, including the council, and the initial outlay, as well as the annual running costs, would have involved significant amounts of money.

"This is disappointing for all of us who have ever used this post office and who would have benefited from it reopening."

Yet Harrow School bursar Nick Shryane told the Observer: "While the school strongly shares the hope that post office services can continue to be provided on the Hill, an affordable solution to the problem has so far been elusive.

"But we have certainly not yet given up and other avenues are being explored."

A Post Office spokesman said: "We are currently involved in discussions with Harrow Council and have written to them recently. These discussions are continuing and we await their response."

Mr Versallion attacked Harrow West MP and Labour minister Gareth Thomas for alleged 'inaction'.

He said: "Not only did Gareth Thomas fail to give his support, he voted with the Government to close the post office, completely ignoring his constituents.

"The residents and businesses who have supported this post office from the moment it was threatened with closure deserve a huge thankyou."

Mr Thomas said: "Even the Conservative leadership in the House of Commons recognised the difficult decision that had to be made on particular post office branches.

"I opposed vigorously the closure of Harrow on the Hill. I wrote to Postwatch urging them to save the post office."