Residents get their post - 19 years late

Residents living in three Shrewsbury streets were left stunned when credit card bills and letters arrived through their letterboxes - nearly 20 years late.

A number of homes in Eastwood Road, Westwood Drive and Eldon Drive in The Mount area of the town received the mail dating back to February 1991 through the post this week.

Included with the out-of-date mail were letters of apology from the Royal Mail explaining that their post had been "withheld from delivery" by a Royal Mail employee.

Keith Fearnside, of Eastwood Road, said he and his wife had received four items of mail including a cheque for £380.

He said: "It was quite a shock when it came through. There were four items, one was an insurance company renewal, my wife had a letter about organising some event and we had a Debenhams bill for £25 which I am sure will have been settled by now - I hope. I also had a cheque for £380 for some expenses I was due."

Mr Fearnside said it was almost pointless for Royal Mail to send the post through 19 years later.

The Royal Mail said the letters had been retrieved by security officials when it was discovered in a house which was being renovated.

A spokeswoman said: "We have made inquiries to try and establish how the mail came to be in the property but after the length of time that has elapsed this has proved very difficult."