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Roy and Annabel Bailey have lived in house in Berkshire for 36 years
Recently their postman stopped delivering the mail in the morning
He refuses to stop and cross road even though he passes right by house
Royal Mail bosses have defended his right to feel safe on his rounds
Fury: Roy Bailey is angry that Royal Mail has stopped delivering to his house in the morning
A postman has refused to deliver a couple's mail in the mornings because he thinks it's too dangerous to cross the road.
Roy and Annabel Bailey have lived in their home, a centuries-old cottage by the side of the road outside a village in Berkshire, for nearly 40 years.
Recently they noticed that the new postman was delivering their letters in the afternoon - even though he drives right past their house every morning.
When they asked him what was going on, he said he was scared to stop by the side of the road and cross to their house opposite.
Mr Bailey, 78, wrote to the Royal Mail to complain - but bosses said that if the postman 'feels at risk in any way' he cannot be forced to cross the road to the home in Great Shefford.
The retired cameraman said: 'It just came out of the blue - they didn't consult us, there was no warning.
'We suddenly started noticing in April, when this new postman started, that our mail deliveries in the morning had stopped and we were getting the post as late as 3.30 in the afternoon.
'We were amazed - every postman for decades before this chap had managed to park and cross the road without incident. It's not even as if it's a dual carriageway, it's just a road out in the middle of the countryside.
'This is a ridiculous and unacceptable state of affairs and it's not affecting just us - we think other people aren't getting their morning mail either.
'I've lived in this house since 1979 and the postman has always delivered our mail in the morning on his way into the village.
'Now we have to wait till he's done all the other villages and is on his way back to his base in Hungerford in the afternoon, so he can park on the "right" side without having to walk across the road to us.
'It's more dangerous in fact, because he has to open the driver's door and step out into the road, walk round his van and come to our front door.'
Response: Royal Mail insisted that their postman is within his rights not to deliver in the morning
Ray Matthews, from Royal Mail's delivery office in Hungerford, told the couple: 'We have a duty of care regarding the safety of our postmen and women, and are duty bound to listen to any concerns they have on their respective deliveries, particularly when it comes to health and safety.
'Your current postman has expressed concerns that crossing the road to your address on his way out is dangerous and he does not wish to place himself at risk.
'I have spoken to our safety, health and environment advisor who states that if the postman feels at risk in any way, he should not be expected to place himself in jeopardy.'
The postal boss insisted that the Royal Mail was still fulfilling its legal duties, by carrying out a delivery before 3.30pm every day.
Mr Matthews offered to carry out an 'in-depth risk assessment on the area in question to evaluate the risks posed'.
