VILLAGERS in Somerset left without mail for 11 days have been told it was due to flooding.
People in areas around Babcary and Cary Fitzpaine received no post for over a week at the start of December.
In one case, a card sent on November 29 – first class – didn’t arrive until December 12, 13 days later.
Royal Mail said the delays were due to flooding around the villages.
“Again, we’ve not had any post delivered for days and days,” said one resident. “And when we did get it, our post – 19 pieces of mail – had been left with someone down the road and they brought it up.”
“It costs £1.25 to send something first class and to get it almost two weeks later is ridiculous,” they added.
But Royal Mail said regular deliveries would now resume after storms hit Somerset roads.
READ MORE: ‘High levels of vacancies’ causing Somerset post delays, says Royal Mail
“A number of villages in the area were severely affected by the recent flooding and were inaccessible for days at a time,” a spokesperson said.
“However, the villages affected by the floods have since had regular deliveries and there is no backlog of mail in those areas.”
Meanwhile, MP Chris Loder (Con, West Dorset) has met postal staff at Sherborne’s Royal Mail Delivery Office to thank them for their continued hard work.
Mr Loder visited the premises ahead of the Christmas period – the busiest time of the year for the Royal Mail.
Chris Loder with Royal Mail staff at Sherborne Delivery Office
“It’s been most insightful to visit Sherborne Delivery Office, which is where the majority of parcels and post is sorted from the town and surrounding villages,” Mr Loder said.
“The team at the delivery office work hard all year round, and this is especially so in the lead up to the Christmas period.”
He added: “I’m very grateful to all the staff for their continued efforts to ensure households in and around Sherborne receive their post and parcels before Christmas Day, and I wish all the team a very restful break.”
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