LETTERS to grandmas, cheques in the post and job applications were all at threat when post boxes over flowed in Ipswich.Concerned Evening Star readers contacted the paper when they visited their nearest post boxes only to discover they were brimming with post.

LETTERS to grandmas, cheques in the post and job applications were all at threat when post boxes over flowed in Ipswich.

Concerned Evening Star readers contacted the paper when they visited their nearest post boxes only to discover they were brimming with post.

Several were worried that letters could get stolen and collections may not have been happening on time which would lead to delays in the post.

Paul Wade, of Parnell Road, Ipswich, visited the sorting office on Commercial Road, at 11.45am on Sunday and found a post box on the side of the building overflowing.

He said: “Anyone could put their hand through the slot and pull out the letters.

“And it wasn't just one or two you could get to but a whole handful. There are not many collections from the town on a Sunday so I was left with little choice but to leave mine on top of an already overflowing pile.

“I have had letters go missing in the post before and this sight worried me that post boxes could be left in this state all over the country and account for hundreds of missing letters.”

On Monday several North West Ipswich residents had a similar problem with a post box outside a row of shops in Garrack Way.

One shopper, who did not wish to be named, said: “I have a letter to post but I am not leaving it in there. It could be stolen by anyone.

“I will have to walk further from home in an attempt to find an emptier box.”

Valerie Antoine, spokeswoman for the Royal Mail, said: “Thank you for drawing this to our attention.

“One of the reasons post boxes can appear full is that oversized envelopes get put into the box. “Unfortunately this means they jam in the basket inside the box and block the way for other mail.

“This of course means the box is not full, but is jammed close to the top, therefore anything else that goes into the box piles high giving the appearance of a full box.

“We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, however we would like to ask any businesses using larger envelopes to consider other customers and to use the appropriate facility.

“If any customer sees a Post Box overflowing they should contact Royal Mail Customer Services on 08457 740740 so they can contact the collections manager to have the box emptied.”