The Church of England may issue guidelines to its parishes recommending their churches be used as post offices, the Sunday Telegraph has reported.

|PIC1|The proposals may be an answer to the threatened closure of hundreds of rural post offices.

Church officials are set to meet Post Office representatives this week to discuss plans to issue stamps from churches across the country.

The latest developments have emerged as the Government's consultation period on the future of the post office network came to an end last week. The consultation commenced following December's decision to close 2,500 post office premises.

However, if plans to use churches are to go forward, the diocesan consistory will need to first offer permission for the alteration of its buildings, the Sunday Telegraph reports.

According to the newspaper, a spokesman for The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings said: "There will always be churches that are of such outstanding importance that the introduction of a post office would just not be appropriate."

He added, however, that the society supported the plans in principle and would consider each case on its own merits.

Rebecca Payne, the policy officer on church buildings for the Archbishops' Council, told the Sunday Telegraph: "The Post Office has been very supportive of our plans as it realises how important it is to keep the service alive. We are publishing guidelines so that the churches know what is involved in taking up this responsibility."

A spokesman for the Post Office said: "We will do all we can to help. They can provide a much-needed and appreciated service that the villages otherwise wouldn't have."