Four post office services on the Isle of Wight are at risk following disputed financial shortfalls recorded by the infamous Horizon Post Office IT system.

In well documented media coverage, during a 15-year period, more than 700 sub-postmasters across the country were wrongly prosecuted for theft, fraud and false accounting after incorrect accounting discrepancies were thrown up by the IT system.

The scandal led to many being left bankrupt and in prison with ruined reputations and years of campaigning that took the toll on them personally and professionally.

Now Island Community Ventures - the trading arm of charity Community Action Isle of Wight - that took over the vital rural post office service in Godshill following its near closure in 2011, is facing a similar worry.

They say it threatens both this and the outreach services they provide in three other communities - Brading, Wootton and Totland.

All four are not for profit run.

In moves that mirror those seen with other such post office services across the country, the Post Office is citing discrepancies in the transactions, accounting and stocktaking managed through the Horizon IT system and is calling for a repayment of sums of over £20,000.

This comes at a time when the independent inquiry into what has been described as the “worst miscarriage of justice in British legal history”, continues at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in Central London.

Director of Island Community Ventures and CEO of parent charity Community Action Isle of Wight, Mike Bulpitt said: “We seem to be in a position where we are at the mercy of a computer system that is simply not working properly.

"There is strong evidence of its faults historically and even in recent correspondence with Post Office staff they have confirmed that they can’t understand why certain things are showing or not showing in the system.

“It is also somewhat ironic that 18 months ago, with the support of our local MP Bob Seely, we raised a number of concerns around post office service delivery on the Island which included being asked to operate with equipment that from our experience didn’t work properly.”

Nick Gould, partner at Aria Grace Law who provided support to some of those previously falsely accused, said: “I can’t believe the Post Office appears to have learned nothing during the last 20 years since the first prosecutions. For them to still be requiring people to somehow prove their own system is faulty is beyond belief.”

Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely said: “This is very concerning news. Island Community Ventures has been doing a fantastic job at keeping post office services operating in some of our smaller rural communities. I hope this issue can be resolved quickly so they can continue with their good work.”

Island Community Ventures says it does not have the £20,000 and are happy to share any financial records to demonstrate it.

Mike added: “Running post offices in rural areas is a tough ask financially and certainly not a profit making venture, so to now face this situation is totally disheartening and is creating stress and anxiety for our staff.

"Hopefully we can reach an agreement on a way forward so the services can be maintained.”