'Mail delay has made my stress and anxiety worse'

Residents in Bridgnorth have said delays in receiving mail resulted in missed medical appointments and important documents not being delivered to them.

Steven Thomas told the BBC he had been waiting for a pension form from a company in Peterborough which had been sent on 3 July.

"I've got stress and anxiety and it's only been made worse, and there have been days where I've sat and cried about it," he said.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said the local team in Bridgnorth had faced higher levels of sick absence, and that no mail had been delayed within the last three weeks.

It added that teams had worked to ensure mail was delivered consistently.

Mr Thomas said the only thing he had received in the last three weeks were flyers, but no mail.

He said the claim for was "financially really a strain on me at the moment".

Jean Corfield said a letter informing her of an appointment with her GP to see a podiatrist was not delivered.

"Of course, I didn't go, and then I had a letter to say that they would cancel it and they'd take me off their list," she said.

"It takes you a long, long time to get in touch with our doctors, and it was two months before I got another appointment."

She added that she also had not received Christmas cards.

"Where have they gone to?" she said.

Rachel Connolly, Progressive Independent councillor for Bridgnorth West, said she had also experienced some delays with her post.

"We do rely on the post arriving on time, particularly our elderly and more vulnerable residents, especially if they don't use the internet - this is the main means of communication for them," she said.

"I feel there are some serious consequences of late post, with people missing health appointments, there could be bills, fines and benefits decisions."

She added that postal workers in the area were "brilliant", but believed there needed to be more staff to deliver post.

"Their [Royal Mail] statement does not reflect Mr Thomas' experience currently."

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