Demonstrators with placards gathered to show their support for postmistress, Brigid Murphy, and express their anger at cuts that would see people having to travel to either Northern Avenue or Shoreham Street branches, both more than a mile away.

The postmistress, who has who has run the post office since 1997, described her branch as the "last man standing" as it is the only business in the area that has stayed open during the regeneration of the estate.

She said: "Closure will leave what is one of the most socially deprived estates in Sheffield without any facilities whatsoever.

"The post office is vital to the regeneration of the area, especially as it is the only shop left on the estate.

"This post office is the last shop before the city centre in a very deprived area, one of the very criteria that the post office has for branches not to close. So why are they ignoring this?

"We are in a regeneration area and we are needed. Closing the post office will cause a lot of hardship on the estate."

The chairman of Norfolk Park Tenants and Residents Association, Jenny Hobson, said the post office was "the only thing we've got left".

She added: "They've taken everything else. Its a lifeline on this estate because there are no shops, no pubs, no social centre, nothing else.

"This is another kick in the teeth – we're going to fight it."

The residents' campaign is backed by Sheffield Council, which says the post office is especially vital in an estate that includes a large number of older and disabled people, young families and people with learning disabilities.

Deputy council leader David Baker said: "If anywhere needs its post office, it's Norfolk Park.

"The people who live here will face considerable difficulties if they have to travel to the next available branch, and that is unacceptable."

Sheffield Council has also launched its own campaign to save all 16 threatened post offices in the city.

A petition has already collected more than 1,000 signatures and can be signed online.