VITAL letters are being delayed delivery of up to a month, residents report, as Royal Mail issues continue across Warrington.

Many fear their Christmas cards will not be delivered until the new year.

One Chapelford resident, who wishes not to be named, was left with no method of payment after waiting more than two weeks for his replacement bank card.

“My bank card expired in mid-November - the bank sent a replacement on November 1, this was finally delivered on November 30, but they had already cancelled it by that point because it was deemed as lost in the post,” he said.

“They sent a replacement on November 16, and this is nowhere to be seen.”

This is one of many complaints voiced by residents who seem to be waiting weeks on end for any sign of post – with important hospital letters being some of the high priority mail failing to make it to its receiver.

The resident added that despite paying for first class post on one item, this has been deemed lost with a second-class item also missing in transit.

Both items sent more than three weeks ago.

“Royal Mail cannot be reached to make a complaint. I spent over an hour in the queue, only to be hung up on as soon as it was answered.”

A Great Sankey resident George McKie reported having received a letter delivered from oversees in New Jersey, USA, earlier than mail he was awaiting sent by his sister in Middlewich, just a short trip down the motorway from Warrington.

George said: “New Jersey is 3367miles and Middlewich 23 miles from Warrington.

“My sister specifically put extra postage on the birthday card to make sure it arrived.

“Well Royal Mail where is it? The parcel deliveries can be three times a day and on Sundays as well.”

The unsatisfied customer said that extra workforce should be employed to handle the strains put on the postal service during Christmas time.

“It appears envelope mail is third class when it comes to delivery. Lack of staff is no excuse no matter what reason,” he added.

A thread on social media highlighting the absence of the service was met with similar responses, with one resident saying, 'my Christmas cards will be arriving in the new year at this point'.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We can confirm deliveries in these areas have unfortunately been affected by high levels of sickness and vacancies in the local delivery office over the last few weeks.

“We have recently had a recruitment drive resulting in new staff joining and we are confident that this will now result in a better service for customers.”