A batch of 562 housing benefit cheques for Maldon tenants has been lost by Royal Mail.

The sack of cheques was collected from Maldon District Council by Royal Mail. It was recorded as received at Chelmsford sorting office but disappeared.

The Royal Mail has launched an investigation.

A 61-year-old Maldon resident, who asked not to be named, said she had been forced to borrow money from her family to pay her rent after her cheque failed to arrive.

"I've been off sick for a year on half pay and I use that money to pay the rent, without it I have nothing to buy food with. If I didn't have a family to fall back on I don't know what I would have done."

The cheques should have arrived by August 30, but replacement cheques were not sent out until Tuesday, meaning tenants will receive their benefits more than a week late.

Maldon District Council benefits and revenues manager Sue Green said: "We want to make it clear it is not down to our negligence people haven't received our payment."

A Royal Mail spokesman said he could not speculate on what compensation would be available while the investigation is on-going.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused. We are investigating what has happened and will be reporting to the council when it is completed."

Published Thursday September 9, 2004

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