Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has called for a publicly owned postal service for Wales to be established if Royal Mail is flogged off.

Con-Dem ministers are forcing through plans to sell Britain's oldest public service despite widespread opposition.

Fears have been raised that rural communities in Wales will be hit hard if fixed-price postage and six-day deliveries end under privatisation.

She said the 1969 Post Office Act, which gave the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man power over postal services, provides a legal precedent for the move.

"A new Post Cymru service would be run in the interests of our communities, ensuring that the universal, six-day service is maintained," said the left-wing assembly member.

"One of the great dangers of this privatisation is that the needs of communities will be jeopardised as profits and share-holder interests take priority."

In a letter to Business Secretary Vince Cable, Ms Wood insisted he should allow Wales to decide the future of the "vital" service.

She added: "The Party of Wales is on the side of public opinion and I urge the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary to respect the context of devolution that now exists."

The Communication Workers Union welcomed the call as "another powerful reason" for the government "to reconsider Royal Mail privatisation."

A spokeswoman told the Star: "Plaid Cymru's proposals to keep Royal Mail in public ownership - albeit only for Wales - are the latest in an outpouring of opposition to privatisation.

"The Tory-led government's plans are deeply unpopular, out of kilter with public opinion and could lead to a series of renationalisation bids."

But she pointed out Mr Cable is unlikely to hand over powers.

"It's unclear how easy it would be for the Welsh government to establish a public postal service without Westminster support," she said.

A motion also passed at this week's Labour Party conference calling on its leaders to renationalise Royal Mail once in government.