Steeple's new post box is to open for business five months after it was first installed at South Green - following a call this week from the Essex Chronicle.

The Royal Mail said the pole-mounted box has remained firmly sealed since November due to ''operational reasons''.

''We offer our sincere apologies to village, but the good news is that the box will open next week,'' said a Royal Mail spokeswoman in response to our enquiry on behalf of frustrated villagers.

She declined to explain exactly why it was sealed, but villagers wonder if it was to prevent birds nesting inside.Steeple parish clerk Mrs P. A.

Parr said she took up the problem with the Royal Mail after numerous complaints from frustrated villagers.She made several phone calls to post bosses.

She said: ''At first Royal Mail said they didn't know it had been installed, then said they had problems finding the right size collection time plates, and then there was a problem rescheduling the route taken by the pick-up van.''

Nearby resident Pat Sanders said: ''It been there for months and everyone is fed up at not being able to use it, so it's good that after the Essex Chronicle stepped in suddenly it's being opened.''

Published Friday, April 18, 2003

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