Since 1956 the post office has been run by the Cleghorn family, first Adam and Jean and now their son Tom and his wife Patricia.

Adam and Tom have both been active members of the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, with Tom a past president of the Dundee branch.

Jean worked at the post office until she was 89, stopping only upon the introduction of computers to the service.

But that long history may soon end as the Westport post office has been earmarked for closure by Post Office Ltd. as part of widespread changes to the branch network.

The six-week public consultation on the proposal ends on Tuesday, July 8, and residents have been urged to make their feelings known.

Cupar councillor Bryan Poole encouraged people to write this weekend making the case for retaining Westport post office.

"The Westport is not under threat because it provides a poor service or because it isn't busy, it is under threat because of what big organisations like the Post Office call 'rationalisation'," he said.

"The Post Office will not accept petitions, so the onus is on each of us to act."

Councillor Poole pointed to the human cost of closure, with the Cleghorn family running the post office for over half a century.

"They have shown great loyalty to the Post Office and to many people in Cupar," he said.

"Whilst the Post Office might be short of loyalty there is an opportunity for us in Cupar to 'repay' the Cleghorn family."

As well as the Westport post office, the branch in Newton of Falkland has also been targeted for closure.

Other proposed changes include turning the Guardbridge and Kinnesswood post offices into outreach services and reducing the opening hours of the existing outreach facility in Springfield.

Comments can be made by phoning 08457 22 33 44, writing to National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd., Freepost Consultation Team, e-mailing consultation@postoffice.co.uk or by going to www.postoffice.co.uk, and following the links.