Post box reopened after terrier row

The dog's owner says he is not nasty

A village post box closed after staff complained they were being attacked by a dog has been reopened.

Delivery workers claimed every time mail was collected from the box in Wedhampton, Wiltshire, they had to fight off the attentions of Loony the Jack Russell terrier.

Villagers also complained they had been nipped when they went to post letters.

But after speaking to Loony's owner Svas Balfour, the Royal Mail has decided to reopen the post box.

Spokesman Dan Panes said: "We do not like having to close post boxes, but the safety of our staff and customers is paramount - we had no choice.

"We have spoken to the dog's owner and we are confident that there will be no more problems - we are very glad we have managed to resolve the situation."

Mrs Balfour, who lives opposite the post box, says her pet is not a nasty dog and denies he is to blame for the attacks.

We are confident that there will be no more problems... we are very glad the situation is resolved

Dan Panes

One alleged victim, 76-year-old Peggy Howe, says she spent several weeks in hospital after Loony bit her leg.

Mrs Howe said: "I was bitten on the leg by the dog when I went to post a letter.

"I thought nothing of it at the time but the leg ulcerated and I was 14 weeks in hospital with it.

"It took five and a half months for it to heal. I didn't report it to the police because the owner, Mrs Balfour, came and apologised."

But Mrs Balfour said: "He is not a nasty dog and we keep him under control. We have three dogs and they are kept behind an electric freedom fence.

"We have had instances of people baiting our dogs in the hope they will attack them. We have also had vandals cut our fences in the past."

Villagers angered by last week's closure of the post box had called on Devizes MP Michael Ancram to intervene in the dispute.