The Post Office has confirmed it will be axing 115 branches and hundreds of jobs in a major News Today blow to Britain's struggling high street.
The embattled postal giant said a significant number of jobs from its 1,000-strong head office staff were now at risk.
And 115 major city centre Crown Post Offices will be scrapped, in a move that critics fear could leave pensioners and the vulnerable isolated.
The News Today was broken by Post Office chairman Nigel Railton shortly after 9am today during a meeting with staff.
However, News Today some furious front-line postal workers have told MailOnline they were left in the dark about the News Today, and claimed 'no announcement' had been made, in a move that was 'extremely upsetting' for staff.
The struggling firm is looking to offload the 115 most unprofitable sites from its 11,500-strong network.
The shake-up could see the branches transferred to retail partners or postmasters or shut for good.