Staff sickness has been blamed for the late deliveries

People living in Yr Hendre in Kenfig Hill near Bridgend have been getting their post as late as 2000 GMT in the night.

Many are angry because their post is so late and have complained to Royal Mail.

The company said there had been "exceptional" problems and apologised to customers.

Marie Merrill who has lived on the estate for seven years described the situation as "horrendous".

It just isn't on and it is having a real impact on everyone Marie Merrill, resident

"The post has never been delivered to the estate until at least the afternoon," she said.

"But since Christmas, it has been really bad - some days we don't get any mail at all.

"On others the postman is doing his rounds until well into the night.

"We have had the postman knocking the door with a torch in his hand asking us to sign for a parcel.

"It was quite unnerving because I was there on my own that night and all I could see was a man standing at the door with a torch.

"It just isn't on and it is having a real impact on everyone.

"If something comes through and you need to go to the bank or the post office then you have to wait until the next day and it is worrying."

My husband even tested the system by posting himself a letter with a first class stamp - it arrived 10 days later Marie Merrill, resident

Mrs Merrill and her husband Martin have complained to Royal Mail about the problem.

"My husband even tested the system by posting himself a letter with a first class stamp - it arrived 10 days later.

"It is appalling. I'm waiting for a date for a hospital appointment but the way things are there is a strong possibility I won't get the letter telling me when to come until it is too late to go."

David Tarr, who also lives on the 53-house estate, said that the delivery problems were affecting everyone.

"It is affecting everybody - people are waiting for their post and for those who are waiting for things like their giro cheques, it is really hard.

Apology

The Royal Mail has said sorry to the people living in the estate for the late deliveries.

"We had an exceptional problem with staff off sick at the time and for several days our postmen and women and Royal Mail managers were delivering the mail to customers," said Kerry Dobbins, Delivery Office Manager in Royal Mail, Bridgend.

"Mail was delivered later than normal because the staff were unfamiliar with the delivery routes and again we apologise for that.

A new single daily delivery service is being set up in the area which aims to get all post through the letterbox by lunchtime.