Mr Bates vs Post Office drama accelerates petition to strip Paula Vennells of CBE and you 'absolutely agree'

The long running petition on 38 Degrees, set up in reaction to the Horizon Scandal, saw the signatures rocket after the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office aired.

Paula Vennells oversaw the organisation when it consistently denied there were issues with its Horizon IT system. The scandal saw 700 postmasters criminally convicted for fraud after faulty software appreared to show money going missing.

Post readers added their comments on the Lancashire Post's Facebook page.

Yvonne Tippett said: "I remember when this was happening and it affected a lot of people plus staff disgrace especially the ones not here anymore . I hope everyone gets closure.

June Barry added: "Completely agree, absolutely disgusting what they did, this should have been in the public interest a long time ago properly, not solved under the carpet, not 20 years after - those poor people. I knew a little about it but after watching the programme it's really made me feel mad and sorry for what they went through, I use my local post office every week and the ladies are amazing, I hope everyone who was subjected gets what they deserve and closure."

Lynne Yates said: "100% she should be stripped of it."

Maureen Chew: "Absolutely agree"

Michelle Wade: "I agree too, all of those auditors and people at the top who humiliated those post office masters need to made accountable." As of Sunday morning, the petition titled 'Post Office Scandal: Strip Paula Vennells of her CBE' had hit the 856,000 mark. The target is 900,000.

The ITV drama tells the story of injustice which saw the fraud charges based on evidence from the faulty computer system. There is an ongoing public inquiry.