A couple who once had to wait 12 years for a Christmas card to be delivered have experienced more postal problems.

Ron and Kathleen Guttridge, of Fernlea Road, Benfleet, say over the last three months their post has become more and more erratic.

They have now received a plastic envelope containing six items of post which were postmarked September 8.

On the package there was a written sticker apologising for the damaged items, but in fact none of the letters were torn.

Mr Guttridge, who is President of Benfleet Organ Society, said he was waiting for important documents and the delay was very inconvenient.

He said: "The package included an important credit card statement and a letter from Southend Hospital Radio which I am involved in.

"By the time I got the letter the event at the hospital had been and gone.

"Our post has become more and more irregular in the last three months since the new system came in, we used to get it between 8 and 8.30am, but now it can come anytime from 9.30am to four in the afternoon.

"They need to get the service improved, the quality has gone downhill rapidly." A spokesman for Royal Mail apologised for the inconvenience and said it was due to an employee 'withholding mail for delivery'.