Postman sacked after 'missing mail' probe

Royal Mail says around 4,000 letters, which would have included hundreds of Christmas cards, failed to reach their destination in Bexhill between November 26, 2002, and January 17, 2003.

Hundreds of households have been affected.

The main streets involved are London Road and Clifford Road but post has also failed to arrive in other parts of the town stretching from Little Common to Pebsham and out to Sidley.

A Royal Mail spokesman said 'a substantial amount' of the undelivered mail has been recovered following an investigation but would not quantify that.

Surprised residents were this week finally receiving their late letters, many of which had been opened or tampered with, along with a letter of apology and explanation from Royal Mail.

The spokesman added: "Security of our customers' mail is of paramount importance to us and we are sorry to say that following a recent investigation by Royal Mail security and Sussex Police into stolen items of mail a member of staff has been dismissed."

Sussex Police say they have no knowledge of the affair despite exhaustive local inquiries by Observer reporters.

When challenged, Royal Mail refused to say to what extent the police were involved and would not divulge the name of any investigating officers.