Mystery of the missing letter box

Ann-Elizabeth Winckworth said that getting to the post box at Station Road, Bognor, was a '˜matter of life and death' for older people.

She called the Citizens Advice Bureau and Post Office Ltd but despite many phone calls got no response.

'All I got on the phone was options, options and more options. But when I thought I'd scored a goal and got through, I got more options,' said Miss Winckworth, of Gibson Way.

'When I got down there I saw an elderly lady with her bills and her back was against the wall. She looked ill and did not know what to do. I had to pay a taxi fare of 5 to get to another post office. We old people can't take much more. Please give us our letter box back.'

Royal Mail spokesman Jackie Stenson confirmed that the letter box was taken away because it had been hit by vehicles on a '˜number of occasions' and was a health and safety hazard.

She added: 'We apologise to customers for the inconvenience. We are looking at an alternative site in the area to place it but it will take some time unfortunately.'

Bognor Chamber of Commerce chairman Nick Stuart-Nicolson also said he was '˜horrified' when he found out about the removal of the post letter box. He added: 'It's because the Tesco delivering drivers keep knocking it over.'