As expected, the Post Office announced on Wednesday that the facility would be closed under the controversial Network Change programme, which affects a number of branches throughout north east Fife.

The village post office in Newton of Falkland is also to go, and the branches in Guardbridge, Glenfarg, and Kinnesswood will be replaced by outreach services.

Ironically, following the announcement Westport, proprietor Tom Cleghorn was initially too busy serving at the post office counter to answer his phone, but he later spoke about his ''extreme disappointment'' at the news.

He said that he hadn't yet been given a closure date, but it would be some time after September 1.

The Cleghorn family have run Westport post office for more than half-a-century, and Mr Cleghorn (59) said that he had known people in the area since he was a small boy.

"I have grown up with the customers here," he added.

"This is a very busy branch and its closure will inconvenience a whole community.

''I have had tremendous support from my customers and local politicians and I'd like to thank them for their efforts in trying to save it. Unfortunately, the Post Office want to reduce the number of branches and there's nothing we can do about it."

However, Mr Cleghorn stressed that the Westport shop would remain open and he hoped that the extra space would allow for expansion so that he could stock a larger range of goods.

Cupar Councillor Roger Guy described as ''crazy'' the decision to close the Westport office.

He declared: "It's a pretty poor way of running a business to shut down the parts of it that are busy and buoyant.

''I am bitterly disappointed with this decision and I believe the consultation process was a sham."

Canon Pat McInally, chairman of Cupar Community Council, spoke of his concerns for the many elderly people in the area who would now have to walk to the main post office in Crossgate.

"Despite the local campaign, the Post Office clearly had an agenda and there was little that could have been done," he said.

"They went through the motions of a consultation process, but unfortunately it didn't change any minds."

Meanwhile, in Guardbridge, chair of the local community council Elspeth Paterson, who also runs a newsagent and general store which offered a daily post office facility, spoke of her disappointment at the news that there is now to be an outreach service for just two hours twice a week.

She said: "Coming hard on the heels of the closure of the paper mill, this is yet another blow for our community.

''Losing the post office will not only greatly inconvenience small businesses, it also means there'll be no banking facility in Guardbridge since the only hole-in-the-wall cash machine is owned by the Post Office.

"During the consultation period I submitted two separate responses — one as chair of the community council and one as shop proprietor — and got the same standard letter back.

"It didn't seem to me as if anyone paid any attention to people's opinions."