Vandal attack leaves 500 homes without postboxes

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RESIDENTS in the Bradley Barton area of Newton Abbot are facing a long trek to post letters after two postboxes were attacked by vandals over the weekend.

The boxes, both in Barton Drive, were targeted in the early hours of Saturday.

One of them, mounted into a brick pillar, was pushed over while the other, attached to a pole, was bent backwards.

The criminal damage has angered local postman Carl Mitchell who collects mail from both boxes.


He said from the scene yesterday: "The bricks from the 6ft pillar were flung across the road — and the box was in the middle of the road.

"It had been there for at least 40 years — and now all that's left is a stump of a few bricks. The pole holding the other postbox was bent back so much that the box was just inches from the ground."

Carl, who is 39 and lives in Barton Drive, was also a victim of the crime spree.

"A rose bush in my garden was pulled up, but I have been able to replant it," he said.

Only last month an estimated £30,000 damage was caused to more than a dozen cars which were 'keyed' by vandals in the Barton Drive area.

He said the two damaged postboxes, about a third-of-a-mile apart, service the 473 addresses he delivers to in the Bradley Barton area.

The nearest working boxes are at Highweek and on the Ashburton Road.

A police spokesman said they were aware of the incident involving the brick pillar.

"It appears the post box may have been pushed over," he said.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "Following extensive damage the post box at Barton Drive has had to be removed on safety grounds. There is an alternative box in Mapleton Close which can be used while we seek to re-site a box. We are also set to carry out maintenance work to a second box at Hunterswell Road off Barton Drive."