The Post Office is to close and franchise a further 37 Crown offices with a loss of around 300 staff.

Some 127 financial specialist roles will also be cut, said the Communication Workers Union.

However, branches in south west Hertfordshire will not close.

Dave Ward, General Secretary of the CWU, said: “the latest round of closures is further evidence that the Post Office is in crisis and that the board of the company, backed by the government, is simply pursuing a strategy of slash and burn.

“Today’s announcement comes less than three weeks after the closure of a major government consultation on the future of the Post Office and sticks two fingers up to everyone who took part in this."

The union has staged strikes in protest at the closure of Crown Post Offices - the larger branches usually sited on high streets.

A colourful protest was held outside the Business Department before Christmas when sackfuls of post cards from members of the public were delivered supporting the union's campaign.

Mr Ward said: "75,000 postcards were returned to the government signed by members of the public calling for an end to the closure and franchise programme – the Post Office and the government have completely ignored their views.

“While the government spent yesterday talking about building a shared society today’s announcement pressing on with the destruction of yet another public service shows we are reaching the point where we will have little left to share.

"The CWU will not accept this and we will be stepping up our political and industrial campaign to fight for the future of the Post Office.”

Deputy General Secretary Terry Pullinger said: "The arrogance of the Post Office and Government is stunning. The Post Office network has been reduced by more than 50 per cent over the past 30 years and continues to be run down. It requires a proper business plan for growth and investment which is being ignored.

"Its IT platform is being held together with sticky tape and it continues to outsource and close its outlets, yet they dress it up as a success and honour its directors.

"A con is a con regardless of how it's dressed up and the British public and our members are being conned on a grand scale into believing that a Post Office without modern new products and services, and the right investment can survive.

"Shame on them and have no doubt our loyal members who have served the British public most of their working lives have every right to protest and we will continue to support and lead them."

The list of the 37 Crown Post Offices which will be franchised

London

Stamford Hill

Leyton

Church Road

Stoke Newington

Walthamstow Central

Harringay

New Cross Gate

Hornchurch

Abbey Wood

Harlesden

South Kensington Station

South Woodford

Yorkshire

Pudsey

Rotherham

New Street (Huddersfield)

Pontefract

Ossett

Hertfordshire

Hoddesdon

Bishops Stortford

Scotland

Brandon (Motherwell)

Morningside (Edinburgh)

Hecia Avenue (Glasgow)

Falkirk

Rest of England

Petersfield (Hampshire)

Collier Row (Romford)

Redruth (Cornwall)

Ulverston (Cumbria)

Billingham (County Durham)

Dundee, Leigh-On-Sea (Essex)

Diss (Norfolk)

Bootle (Merseyside)

Lancing (Sussex)

Thetford (Norfolk)

Consett (County Durham)

Shoreham by Sea (Sussex)

Camborne (Cornwall)