Towns and even city centres face being left as “postal deserts” after it emerged that more than a third of post offices within the troubled TG Jones chain are closing.

So far this year 36 branches within the high street chain formerly known as WH Smith have closed and a further 34 are set to close by early 2027, according to Post Office records analysed by the Guardian.

TG Jones was bought and renamed by Modella last year. Before the private equity group’s restructure won approval from creditors in July , the chain operated 180 post offices and it had been feared that as many as 60 could be closed under the shake-up.

Up to 150 of the 450 stores acquired by Modella are expected to shut, about 65 of which have already closed and at least another 46 are to cease operating early next year.…