MAIL bosses came under fire last night after a village was left without a post box - forcing residents to travel around three miles to send a letter.

It was removed from Old Post Office in The Street, Butley, near Woodbridge, on Friday.

The owners of the building - which has not been a post office for many years - were forced to take it out because they are renovating the property.

It is understood they have been in negotiation with Royal Mail for eight moths warning them of their intention to remove the post box.

However bosses failed to act - although last night they said they hoped a new one would be in place in a “few weeks”.

It means villagers are forced to travel around three miles just to send a letter.

David McGinity, chairman of Butley, Capel St Andrew and Wantisden Parish Council, said: “We would really like to get this sorted out as soon as possible. I understand the people who moved in to the property wanted it changed and have been on to Royal Mail for a number of months. However, they have been totally frustrated.

“We have tried getting hold of Royal Mail but nothing has happened. I have even suggested an alternative site. It is a great concern because we have a number of people here who don’t have cars. What can they do? There are a lot of people who depend on that box. The nearest one is about three miles away.”

The owners of the Old Post Office are not currently living in the property and could not be contacted by the EADT yesterday.

However they have left a note on a window saying they had to take the box out for “urgent internal repairs”.

“We apologise to those Butley residents who are genuinely affected by the removal,” it continues. “This action was a last resort following eight months of inaction and apathy from Royal Mail.

“After making initial promises, our personal visits, phone calls and letters have been ignored and unanswered by them.

“We will continue to pressure Royal Mail to provide a new box elsewhere in Butley.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We fully understand residents’ concerns and are very sorry for the inconvenience they have been caused but would like to reassure them that we are doing our utmost to install a new post box very near the site of the one that has been removed and we hope it will be in place within a few weeks.

“We are in urgent talks with local authorities about how to facilitate this and hope to be able to announce some good news to Butley shortly.”