RESIDENTS in Picket Twenty have been left confused by a lack of postal deliveries over the past fortnight.

But now the Royal Mail has confirmed that “COVID related absences” are behind the delays.

Posting on a community Facebook page last week, one resident wrote: “Not seen a postie all week and been expecting post since Saturday.”

Another added: “This is the second day in a row with no delivery which is very unusual for us.”

Then today (Tuesday, September 7), another resident, who asked not to be named, told the Advertiser: “We have not received any post from the post office since August 26. I've been told today that a shortage of people is the cause, sickness etcetera.”

When the Advertiser asked Royal Mail why there were delays, and when residents could expect normal service to resume, a spokesperson said: “The health and safety of our colleagues and our customers is our number one priority. In a limited number of areas, we are experiencing some disruption to service due to COVID related absences.

“We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week. If resourcing issues, associated self-isolation and safety measures prevent this, we’ll deliver at least every other day.

“It’s only in extreme cases – where offices are severely affected by absence levels - that this may not be possible”.