Post delivered 'five years late'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/derbyshire/7779960.stm

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People in Derby have received letters that should have been delivered up to five years ago.

The post, which was finally delivered this week, was destined for addresses in the DE24 postcode area, which includes Sinfin and Alvaston.

The Royal Mail has since apologised for the mistake.

It said an employee had been suspended in November after an internal inquiry revealed a "substantial quantity" of undelivered mail.

Letters of apology

David Johnson, from Alvaston, received 24 letters dating back to 2004.

He said: "I felt disgusted that these letters had been hanging for five years, just sitting about and not being delivered."

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said the employee concerned had now left, letters of apology had been sent to the intended addresses and the business was intending to prosecute.

She added: "Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely."