Victims of the Post Office scandal say they are trapped in their branches - as the affair has put off anyone from buying their businesses.

Subpostmasters looking to sell say growing awareness of the historic injustices has scared away potential buyers.

Any potential buyer taking on an existing or new branch must go through a rigorous approval process with the Post Office, but the brand has become 'toxic', owners claim.

The challenges these subpostmasters have faced in finding a buyer means their local communities risk losing their only Post Ofifce branch, Retail Express reports.

Christopher Dubery, of Dulverton Post Office, had also shelled out his own money to make up for shortfalls in his Horizon system.

He will leave in September, after having it on the market for a year.

He added: “We’re partly not getting interest because of the scandal, but also because of remuneration being rubbish.

''The money just isn’t there. Across west Somerset and north Devon, more than 14 branches have closed over the past 15 months.

''They’ve had enough. If I was looking to buy a post office now, that would put me off, irrespective of how much income I’d get.”

Graham Livesey, of the Beehive in Stavely, Cumbria, said his Post Office branch had been on the market since 2015 with no viewings.

“The business is marketed at a realistic price, and I haven’t even put the asking price up. Post Office is a toxic attachment,” he said.

Manish Jadav, owner of shop brokerage firm Trinity Retail Sales, told Retail Express that post offices that have been on the market for more than a year need to “look at their price” to sell.

He added: “It’s about generating viewings through social media and marketing. I’d highlight the fact that banks are closing, and footfall will be coming to a post office.”

A PO spokesperson told Retail Express: “We’re saddened to hear there are current postmasters who no longer want to operate a post office.

“We firmly believe customers recognise their value and are continuing to distinguish between Post Office’s appalling past behaviour in the Horizon scandal, and today’s postmasters, who are the lifeblood of their communities.”