A Suffolk MP is seeking assurances that a town's postal sorting office will return after having to move away due to flooding when Storm Babet deluged the county.
Dr Dan Poulter, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, has called on postal service company Royal Mail to restore Framlingham's sorting office after the facility had to be temporarily relocated to nearby Saxmundham.
The sorting office had previously shared the Post Office's Riverside home, but when the premises was flooded in October the two services went separate ways with the Post Office moving to Bulstrodes and Framlingham Toy Shop in Bridge Street.
Earlier this month, the EADT revealed postmaster Roger Tripp's 'delight' that he had been able to reopen at the shop just three weeks after the flood, having initially faced the prospect of being out of action for four months due to damage caused by the water.
Mr Poulter said residents had reported receiving 'slower, less frequent deliveries' due to the relocation of the sorting office and called for the service to return to Framlingham 'as soon as possible,' adding that there were growing concerns the Saxmundham move could be made permanent.
He added: “As a result of the recent floods, we all understand that it has been necessary to move the sorting office to Saxmundham, but it is essential that Royal Mail commits to the reopening of the postal sorting office in Framlingham as soon as possible.
“Since the temporary relocation of the sorting office facility to Saxmundham, many residents in the town are reporting slower deliveries and experiencing a reduced level of service and receiving post on fewer days than when the sorting office facilities were located in Framlingham.
"If customers are not home to receive parcels, they now face having to drive many miles to Saxmundham sorting office to collect their post.
“This is clearly not acceptable and we need to see the return of the sorting office to Framlingham so that local residents can continue to receive the service they deserve.”