Royal Mail has apologised to people in Corsham for lost or late delivery of post due to teething problems following the closure of the town’s sorting office.

Corsham Town Council agreed on Monday evening to ask Royal Mail for an explanation after Cllr Ruth Hopkinson raised their concerns.

This week a spokesman said the problems had been caused by a combination of hiring new staff who did not know the rounds well and people covering for sickness.

These problems had now been sorted out and mail was being delivered on time and to the right place.

Cllr Hopkinson said she had received numerous letters and emails complaining about the decline in the quality of service since the sorting office moved to Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate in Chippenham last year.

She said: “I live on Bences Lane and my mail gets sent to addresses in The Laggar sometimes.

“Other times I don’t receive any mail and then the next day I have lots of it, which seems quite suspicious to me.

“On the odd occasion my post has been dropped at my back door step and I don’t find it until late at night, at which point it can be soaking wet.

“I have received numerous letters from residents who are concerned about the situation, stating they have the same problems as me or even with the redirection service which doesn’t seem to be working very well.

“I think there are many people affected across town, out of 25 people I spoke to seven had issues with their mail and there will be plenty more as well.”

At the meeting Cllr Lucy Bray said: “I agree with everything Ruth has said. I have had problems with my mail and when I rang customer services they were very unfriendly and unhelpful.”

Gillian Fleming, of Pickwick Road, said people on low incomes or with no transport have difficulty getting to Bumpers Farm to pick up parcels.

Royal Mail says anyone who is still having problems receiving post should contact its customer services helpline on 08457 740 740.