Discarded mail found under hedge

[Stormproof]

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Discarded-mai ... 3696350.jp

Discarded mail found hidden under hedge

Undelivered items of mail found near a footpath close to Heatherleigh in Leyland

A bundle of letters has been found dumped in undergrowth in
Leyland.
A road worker came across the mail as he carried out work on a public footpath off Heatherleigh, near Croston Road.

The bunch of soggy letters – some postmarked in August – and magazines were wrapped in a red rubber band like those used by postmen making deliveries.

One letter appeared to have been sent by the Prison Service. Others included private letters, mobile phone bills and a letter from the Halifax bank – sparking fears of identity theft.

The 44-year-old road worker, who asked not to be named, said it looked like whoever abandoned the mail had tried to hide it behind a tree. He said: "We went down a public footpath to dig up cables when I noticed this paper in the brambles.

"I went to have a look and it was a bundle of letters and magazines, posted first-class. There were about 30 to 40 of them."

Jacqueline Ball, who lives in School Lane, was among those whose mail was not delivered.

She said: "It is strange because there have been a few things lately that haven't arrived. We were waiting for a cheque for my son which never came. I rang the company and they sent me another but we never knew what happened to the original."

Jacqueline's mobile phone bill was among the pile of mail left under a hedge. She said: "I foster a young boy and his social worker is based in Birmingham so I get mail about that. It could be sensitive."

The Evening Post recovered the letters and handed them to the Royal Mail. A Royal Mail spokesman said: "We're launching an immediate investigation.

"Anyone who has concerns about mail which they believe hasn't been delivered should contact Royal Mail customer services on 08457 740 740.

"Royal Mail handles over 21 billion items of mail each year and all but 1% are delivered safely."



The discovery comes after a postman admitted hoarding thousands of items of mail at his home because smoking cannabis made him too tired to finish his rounds in Preston.