Bag of mail is found dumped in hedgerow

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news ... _1_1787804" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AN investigation is under way after around 50 items of mail were found dumped in a Peterborough hedgerow.

Shocked pensioner Raymond Preston found the sack of post abandoned in a hedge at the corner of Searjeant Street and Bourges Boulevard, near Peterborough city centre, at 7.20am yesterday (7th December).

Mr Preston (74), of Scotney Street, New England, made the discovery while he was on his rounds delivering The Evening Telegraph.

He spotted the letters strewn along the floor and lodged in undergrowth.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it. I have been doing my route for four years and I have never seen anything like it.”

The discovery comes less than a month after Woodston resident Richard Mourton (28) found a trolley with undelivered mail abandoned at the side of Shrewsbury Road, in Woodston.

The letters found by Mr Preston were intended for residents living at Berry Court housing complex, in Bourges Boulevard.

Mr Preston said: “I picked the letters up, because I thought I might see a postman on my route. I didn’t bump into any so I phoned Royal Mail when I got back at about 8am.

“They sent two inspectors who took the letters away. They said they were taking them to the Papyrus Road sorting office and then they would be sent out again.”

Councillor Charles Swift said it was a worry ahead of Christmas.

Cllr Swift said: “It is inexplainable and beyond comprehension. I had a look at the letters and there weren’t any Christmas cards. I hope everyone gets all of their cards delivered. We didn’t open any obviously but it did look like there were some letters about children’s education.

“These are very important documents that need to be delivered. There was also a letter from Visa that had been opened before being dumped, so that is obviously a big worry.”

A spokesman for the Royal Mail said the postal worker on the route had been spoken to and it is thought the items had been delivered to Berry Court.

The spokesman added: “We are investigating this incident but believe these items had already been delivered to the address in question. We could contact the police if the investigation recommends so.”

He was unable to answer further questions about when the letters were delivered to Berry Court and in what manner they were left there.

A Cambridgeshire police spokesman confirmed that the Royal Mail had the power to investigate the matter internally but said if a crime had been committed they must get in touch with the force.