Almost half of the nation's countryside communities have lost key services in the past four years, according to a government report. A study by Oxford University, for the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), paints a bleak picture of neighbourhoods ‘geographically deprived' because of distances from doctors' surgeries, post offices and shops. The research revealed that of 32,439 communities studied, 14,493 had become more geographically de-prived by the closure of amenities since the previous study in 2004. Every neighbourhood in England was ranked according to a ‘multiple deprivation' index. Bridestow in Devon fared worst, because of residents' ‘road distance' to the GP, post office, shop or school. It comes as more rural post offices face the threat of closure as the Post Office plans cutbacks. Schools face a similar fate as councils come under government pressure to remove ‘surplus places' at primary schools. A spokesman for the DCLG defended the study, claiming it did not provide proof communities were disadvantaged because of distance from amenities. ‘There is simply no evidence to suggest that areas are losing out because of distance from services,' he said.