World · Europe · 10 hrs ago
Somerset resident reports just two Royal Mail deliveries in three months
A resident of a village in Bridgwater, Somerset, says they received only two letter deliveries in three months.
One delivery included overdue bills and a letter about a routine cancer test, and the resident says they are still waiting for the test results.
Royal Mail denies suspending or reducing deliveries to the village, but says staff shortages prevented some delivery rounds from being completed in September.
The communications regulator is investigating claims that parcels are being prioritised over letters.
Royal Mail says time-sensitive items come first during exceptionally busy periods, and says extra staff and training have recently improved service.
The company says it is working to deliver outstanding mail and restore a reliable, consistent service.
A Somerset resident says Royal Mail delivered letters only twice in the three months after they moved to their village.
The resident says one delivery was arranged after they spoke to a postman on a parcel round.
The letters included a bank card, overdue-bill notifications, a water-company letter and a routine cancer-test letter.
Royal Mail denies suspending or reducing deliveries, but says staffing pressures stopped some rounds being completed in September.
The company also denies prioritising parcels, while saying time-sensitive items come first during exceptionally busy periods.
- Who
- A Somerset resident identified as BJ reported the problem. Royal Mail responded.
- What
- BJ said they received just two deliveries of letters in three months.
- When
- The report was published on 9 November 2026. BJ described the three months since moving to the village.
- Where
- A village in the Bridgwater constituency, Somerset.
- Why
- The postman told BJ that the Bridgwater sorting office had stopped letter deliveries to prioritise parcels. Royal Mail denies this and cites resourcing pressures that prevented some rounds from being completed.
Somerset resident and postman
Royal Mail
Aspect
Somerset resident and postman
The postman told BJ the Bridgwater sorting office had stopped letter deliveries to prioritise parcels.
Royal Mail
Royal Mail says it neither suspended nor reduced deliveries and denies prioritising parcels.
Aspect
Somerset resident and postman
BJ said they received only two letter deliveries in three months.
Royal Mail
Royal Mail said resourcing pressures prevented some rounds from being completed in September and that additional staff and training had improved service.
Ashley Fox raised the issue in parliament after residents in his Bridgwater constituency reported severe delays to post since the start of the year.
Royal Mail said resourcing pressures prevented the completion of some delivery rounds.
Royal Mail said additional staff and increased training and oversight had improved the service.
The Guardian published BJ’s account of receiving just two letter deliveries in three months.
- Reported deliveries
- Two in three months
- Location
- Bridgwater constituency, Somerset
- MP
- Ashley Fox
- Incomplete rounds
- September
- Publication date
- 9 November 2026
What people are saying
Our teams are working hard to deliver any outstanding mail as quickly as possible. We know there is more to do and remain focused on restoring a reliable and consistent service for customers.
resourcing pressures
time-sensitive