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 was broken by Post Office chairman Nigel Railton shortly after 9am today during a meeting with staff.

However, some furious front-line postal workers have told MailOnline they were left in the dark about the news, and News Today 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.