The Echo published my photo of a Parcel Force vehicle making a delivery to my property.

Royal Mail spokeswoman Sally Hopkins responded by stating: “The underside of Parcelforce Worldwide vehicles is higher”.

I agree, but the Peugeot Bipper van, which Royal Mail is using, has one of its selling points as quoted on the Eddy Grimstead website: “Increased ground clearance means it is stable on rougher terrain”.

So Royal Mail have purchased a van with increased ground clearance that’s unsuitable for use on Benfleet's unmade roads. Hardly a good deal then?

Strange isn’t it? I used to drive a Midas Bronze years back in the roads in question and never experienced any grounding.

I have seen other sports cars using our local unmade roads and I doubt their owners would be using them if they were experiencing the damage Royal Mail is claiming.

Royal Mail should come clean. It is trying to save money under the banner of health and safety.

Gerry Bullock
Jasmine Wensley Road

...Having followed the saga of postal deliveries in unmade roads in Benfleet, I really do despair at the service Royal Mail now provides.

I worked at the Hockley delivery office for over 40 years and there was never any dispute or problems with health and safety.

If there had been, I should think about 50 per cent of the roads in Hullbridge alone wouldn’t have received a delivery.

We provided a service which Royal Mail was quite rightly proud of.

D Clemesha
Harrogate Road
Hockley