Postal delays in Weymouth have sparked anger from residents, with claims some mail is takes more than a week to arrive, and often deliveries all come at once.

The delays of post-delivery, some even first class, have meant that for some, when the post arrives, it does so in one big clump as a week's worth of mail arrives on the same day.

These issues have been reported in Chickerell, Preston and Littlemoor.

Gilbert Field, from Chickerell, has been waiting more than a week for important mail from London. He said: "I have been waiting for some important letters from London for over a week. they were posted first class. It should be the next day or two at the most

"We have had nothing all this week now. I think it is mismanagement. I am angry about it. You are waiting for mail and it is not coming."

Dorset Councillor for Littlemoor and Preston Louie O'Leary has spoken to residents with issues and has had problems himself. He said: "I have had a couple of residents raise the issue. I have had some residents say they have had clumps of mail delivered at once.

"We want some answers and assurances that it is not going to be a persistent problem with the holiday coming up."

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are committed to restoring our quality of service to our customers. We have plans in place and dedicated teams responsible for improving deliveries in Weymouth and at our delivery offices nationwide.

“Over the last 12 weeks, we have recruited around 6,000 postmen and women and are continuing to recruit c.500 permanent positions a week in delivery. To support the health of our employees and assist them in their return to work, we have introduced a wellbeing programme which provides colleagues with free, confidential, and independent healthcare support, including unlimited 24/7 access to an online GP.

“In the lead-up to Christmas, we are taking on 16,000 temporary workers, more vehicles and additional parcel sorting sites to handle double the normal volume of parcels we expect over the period.

“These actions plus others are already making a difference in some areas and we are confident that they will continue to improve the quality of service for our customers.”