RENDLESHAM residents have called for an investigation into missing mail after a single mother lost vital documents required for benefit claims.The latest incident has highlighted a problem experienced in the village where householders have not received expected post or had their outgoing mail received at other addresses.

RENDLESHAM residents have called for an investigation into missing mail after a single mother lost vital documents required for benefit claims.

The latest incident has highlighted a problem experienced in the village where householders have not received expected post or had their outgoing mail received at other addresses.

Sue Howarth, sub-postmistress at Rendlesham post office, said: "They have all filled in forms to say mail has been lost. There was quite a spate of it about two to three months back when a whole lot of mail went missing of documentation type including DVLA mail."

Sally Smith, of Rendlesham, said she had to incur extra expense after her documents for a claim for housing benefit and income support were not delivered to Woodbridge Jobcentre.

She sent a stiff-backed A4 envelope from the post box outside Rendlesham post office two weeks ago. It contained the birth certificates for herself and her four-year-old son Jamie, a tenancy agreement, bank statements, a National Insurance card and letters.

It is costing Ms Smith £16 for duplicate birth certificates and £30 for another tenancy agreement and the missing mail also means that her application will be delayed and she will have to wait longer to receive any income.

Ms Smith has reported the missing mail to the police and Royal Mail.

"It is a bit worrying to think that someone could have two birth certificates and they could be using them for anything. I am in a vicious circle because now I have to fork out more money to replace them to try and get some income.

"It is ridiculous to think that such a large piece of mail could go missing and it has obviously got to be somewhere," said Ms Smith.

She said she had not sent the mail by registered or recorded delivery because the post office had been closed and she wanted to post the mail as quickly as possible to speed up her benefit application.

A Consignia (Royal Mail) spokeswoman said people who had complaints about mail could contact the customer services department on 08457 740740 and fill in a complaint form.

A free book of stamps was normally sent out to complainants who had not used recorded or registered delivery.

She added Woodbridge delivery office had reported no problems with the delivery of mail in Rendlesham.