POST Office managers last night rejected a claim that an overtime ban could lead to thousands of people facing delays receiving their mail.Royal Mail bosses have ordered hundreds of postal workers across large parts of Suffolk and Essex not to work extended hours.

POST Office managers last night rejected a claim that an overtime ban could lead to thousands of people facing delays receiving their mail.

Royal Mail bosses have ordered hundreds of postal workers across large parts of Suffolk and Essex not to work extended hours.

Union leaders claim overtime payments in the CO postal area – which covers 200,000 addresses including Brantham and Manningtree – have already exceeded budget limits, leading to working arrangements being changed.

However, Post Office bosses have denied introducing a blanket ban on extended deliveries in the area.

Last night, a spokesman said: "There is no blanket ban on extended deliveries in the CO area. We are keeping a close eye on overtime controls, which is something being done everywhere and is quite normal in business. No rounds will be affected; therefore no customers will be affected."

But both representatives of Communication Workers Union (CWU) and postal workers have said the new working practices where put in place earlier this week.

They also warned the move cause lengthy delays in mail delivery times, especially in the rural areas.

Usually any postal worker who didn't finish a round within allocated time could work on to ensure all mail was delivered on time and claim payment for the extra hours worked.

But now postal workers have been told to leave mail in the office if they can't deliver it all within the allocated time. Any mail taken out that is not delivered within the allotted time scale must also be brought back to the office.

Kevan Pugh, substitute area delivery representative for the CO postal area, for CWU, said: "There isn't a blanket ban on overtime as such but there is certainly a clampdown on overtime which has a detrimental effect on the earnings of our membership and gives us concerns for the quality of service."