Morvern secures its own postcode from Royal Mail

Royal Mail said the move would make sorting mail more efficient

A remote west coast of Scotland peninsula has won its own postcode from Royal Mail after a community campaign.

Morvern had shared PA34 with Oban even though some households are separated from the Argyll town by a 120-mile road trip or a journey involving ferries.

Following a petition to the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee, Morvern has now been given a PA80 postcode.

The new postcode covers more than 200 properties. Royal Mail said the move would make sorting mail easier.

The petition was raised by Morvern Community Council.

Julie Morrison, Royal Mail's head of external relations in Scotland, said the organisation would only consider changing a postcode if it improves its operations.

She added: "In the case of Morvern, we examined very carefully all of the options and we are proposing this change in order to improve the efficiency of our mail services in the area.

"We look forward to receiving feedback from the local residents on the proposal."

In January, Royal Mail said some addresses in the Highlands were removed from its postcode database in error.

It said it was an "isolated local mistake" that was later rectified.

Some of those removed were understood to be for holiday homes in small communities, including Applecross in Wester Ross and on Raasay, near Skye.

Royal Mail said the only properties that should be removed were those that no longer existed, were not accessible, or had been abandoned.