Thousands of letters undelivered

Royal Mail has sent a letter of apology to customers in Edenbridge

The delivery of thousands of letters sent to people in a Kent town has been delayed by up to nine months.

An investigation by Royal Mail is under way after post intended for addresses in Edenbridge laid undiscovered at the town's delivery office.

It said the post had been withheld from delivery by one of its employees.

Local resident Caroline Laming said she had only recently received items, which included a bank card and statements, posted in March, August and September.

'Zero tolerance policy'

Ms Laming, who is a book-keeper, said the delay to her post had affected her work.

"I am disappointed... I've been chasing people for about eight months now with their cheques and asking them to send it again," she said.

The Royal Mail said all undelivered items, which came to a total of about 3,500, had now been sent out.

In a letter apologising to customers in the town, it said post had been withheld from delivery by a Royal Mail employee, that it had a "zero tolerance policy towards the mistreatment of mail", and that it was taking appropriate action.

Caroline Laming said she had received post dated as far back as March