AMMANFORD Post Office has received the backing of the public as it battles to avoid closure over “ridiculously high business rates.”

A petition set up by Suntharamoorthy Sumankaran, who runs the Quay Street post office, has received almost 800 signatures in one week.

Mr Sumankaran has been running the town centre post office for nearly five years and says it has been a constant struggle to meet the £10,000 a year payments.

He is now calling on the Welsh Government to lower the rates to help struggling businesses such as his.

“I’ve been paying these ridiculously high rates for the last five years, but it has come to the point where I am battling to keep up with the demands,” said Mr Sumankaran.

“Myself and my staff are doing all we can to provide the best service for customers, but with the weight of these payments, it is getting more and more unmanageable.

“Every time I try and speak to someone about the costs, I’m getting nowhere, I’m being knocked from pillar to post.”

Mr Sumankaran said he has been overwhelmed with the public’s support since he announced the problems with the business.

“The public have been amazing, they are not happy with the situation and are really getting behind me and fighting my corner,” he said.

“The facts are simple, we are losing money.

“This is the main post office in the town, we don’t want to lose it, but it looks like that could be the case if something isn’t done soon.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The Economy Minister recently announced that increases in business rates bills will be capped at two per cent again next year and the extension of the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme until March 2016.

“That scheme benefits over three quarters of businesses in Wales, reducing their rates or removing them altogether.

“Post offices may be eligible for this scheme and the Wales Retail Relief Scheme. Business rates will be fully devolved to Wales from April 2015 and the minister has committed to looking at how the business rate system can be better used to promote economic growth throughout Wales.”