Mr Hoyle tore into Post Office managing director Alan Cook and Network Director Paula Vennells when they appeared before the influential Business and Enterprise select committee.

He asked whether it was "deliberate" that they took a fortnight to answer a letter from postal services watchdog Postwatch which raised crucial questions about the impact of axeing the Bolton Road Post Office in Chorley.

They finally replied on the day the popular branch was closed in May.
Ms Vennells denied the delay was deliberate but as she continued, Mr Hoyle interrupted, saying: "Can you put the spade down? You should be embarrassed by what you are telling me. Either get your facts right or say 'I can't answer'."

He went on: "Why does it take you two to three weeks to answer Mr Webber (Postwatch's chief executive) but you manage to answer on the day you close the Post Office?

"You have got to feel embarrassed yourself by that surely or have you no shame whatsoever?

"Because I tell you, I represent these people. You don't know the upset this has caused. You don't care. I care and it's time you had a conscience as well."

His broadside stunned the normally sedate proceedings and appeared to immediately force the Post Office into a major climbdown as Mr Cook suggested the Bolton Road branch could reopen.

Mr Cook said Post Office managers would walk around the area near the outlet branch, which served between 1,000 and 1,500 customers a week, with Mr Hoyle.

"There would be no point is walking around if we weren't prepared to change something as a result," he said.
When pressed further he said the Post Office could: "potentially either reopen a branch or put some kind of provision in there that isn't in there now."

Mr Hoyle's anger stems from the Post Office's decision to close the branch, despite figures which show that up to 1,000 new homes are likely to be built nearby.

Post Office managers insist only 450 houses are planned near the outlet but Mr Hoyle said Chorley Borough Council has already granted planning permission for more than 850.

Earlier in the committee hearing Ms Vennells blamed Chorley Borough Council for not providing the information.

She told Mr Hoyle: "As you know we tried to contact the council several times and received very little information from them.

"Eventually we did get through some information and I think it was 300 - 400 approved by planning permission."

Mr Hoyle replied : "I gave you the figures and it seems that you don't believe me as a MP."

In an interview in May, Bolton Road postmaster Phil Budge said he would not reopen the post office even if it was reinstated.

Mr Budge said: "I''ve got absolutely no intention of opening another small business in this country and going abroad is one option, but not for the next twelve months at least.

"We're going to think about whether we let the property, apply for planning permission to convert it into a home or sell it as an empty retail unit."

Mr Budge was unavailable for comment today as the post office closed on May 12.

The four other Chorley post offices axed despite a high-profile campaign to keep them were Withnell Mill post office in Withnell, Chapel Lane in Coppull, Church Lane post office in Charnock Richard.