A LAST-DITCH effort to persuade the Royal Mail to stay in Liverpool fell many millions short of being able to secure a deal, the Daily Post can reveal.

The cost difference between transferring 580 staff from the city’s Copperas Hill sorting office to Warrington, versus building a new centre in Liverpool, was so large that officials could see no way to bridge the gap.

The Royal Mail confirmed last night that its Liverpool site would close and the work move down the M62 to Warrington.

Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman, who has campaigned to keep a sorting office in the city, said she was disappointed by the announcement, but conceded it might be the final verdict on the matter.

Council leader Cllr Warren Bradley said he was appalled by the “ridiculous” decision and said he had already written to Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier to demand a rethink.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) has called a mass meeting for tomorrow.

The Royal Mail last night said the Copperas Hill sorting office would close some time next year – but the company could not say when – and 580 jobs will be moved to Warrington.

A spokesman said everyone working at Copperas Hill would have a job at the centre in Warrington if they wanted.

Royal Mail started reviewing its North West operation in February. In August, it announced plans to open three modern mail centres and close other sorting offices.

It said two would be in Manchester and Preston, and its preferred option was for the third to be in Warrington, which would bring about the closure of offices in Liverpool and Crewe.

Last month, it agreed to reconsider following lobbying from Ms Ellman, unions, and agencies in the city.