Cllr Aled Roberts pointed out earlier this week that Wrexham MP Ian Lucas had voted in favour of Government plans to close 2,500 post offices across the UK at a meeting in Wrexham.

He said that, instead of asking the council what it was doing to keep post offices open, Mr Lucas should tell them what he is doing to help.

Mr Lucas has responded, saying: "Firstly, I have voted for the Government's plans to make a £1.7 billion pound investment in the Post Office network – a vital investment which other parties have not said they will match.

"Yesterday, I met with the minister of state for work and pensions, James Purnell, to stress the importance of the Post Office card account to him. I have written more than 300 letters to constituents from Wrexham who have raised their concerns about the card with me and put those concerns directly to the minister concerned.

"I also met with communities minister Pat McFadden yesterday to discuss a change in policy regarding the liberalisation of postal services and to put forward the case for the Royal Mail having a fair crack of the whip under any such plans.

"I have also long been an advocate of increasing business in the Post Office in any way possible – for instance, I put forward proposals in the Commons for post offices and credit unions to be more closely integrated and to work together.

"I have also ensured I use Post Office and Royal Mail services for my work as an MP and to communicate with my constituents.

"I have not sat back over this issue. I believe we all have a part to play in keeping post offices open.

"Unlike those councillors who pledged action in March but have yet to draw up their plans for increasing council business through post offices, I am taking action."

The Post Office consultation on the plans begins on July 29, when the list of those post officers affected is released. On Tuesday Wrexham Council's executive board agreed that its response to that consultation must look at provision of business, particularly in rural areas, in a practical way with statistical analysis and realistic proposals to back up the council's arguments.

Cllr Neil Rogers asked that council officers look into the possibility of paying council tax at local post officers and not use private couriers.

Chief financial officer Mark Owen said that the council was already looking into how many transactions it put through the post office as opposed to direct debits, and details would be in the full report presented to the executive at the end of the consultation period.

He said there is a pilot taking place in the council's Lambpit Street offices for outgoing mail, which uses both a private courier and Royal Mail.