Royal Mail bosses have been forced to close a country postbox after discovering snails have been crawling inside – and eating the mail.
The creatures have put a whole new spin on the term ‘snail mail’, forcing the red box on the B1341 in Adderstone, Northumberland, to close in July.
It’s currently unknown how Royal Mail realised the animals were eating the letters inside the box and how long they were doing it for.
Northumberland County councillor Guy Renner-Thompson said: ‘The road has been closed and thought the box had been closed because the road had been closed.
‘But then I saw the sign that said the post had been eaten by the snails.
‘I know the locals will be annoyed that this has happened because about a year ago, the post box got stolen.
‘It’s a very well used box although it’s in the middle of nowhere. The residents will be looking forward to it going back in operation.’
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: ‘A post box may be temporarily closed due to a wildlife infestation, we then take steps to resolve it and will reopen as soon as possible.
‘In the meantime, we advise customers to use their nearest convenient post box.’
Royal Mail expect the post box to reopen this week.
It comes as it was revealed the British postmen are facing stiff competition with delivery drivers – with 47% of Brits thinking delivery drivers now play a more important role in their community than posties.
The findings, from Mercedes-Benz Vans’ new Under the Bonnet report, also reveal delivery drivers make more visits to households than the postman – knocking on our doors an average of 2.7 times a week, compared with 2.3 times a week for postmen.
The average number of van deliveries for 18-34-year-olds – who have grown up with on-demand deliveries – rises to 5.4 compared to 2.5 postal visits.
The survey also found 24% of people would let a delivery driver into their home to use the toilet, compared to less than one and give who would let a postie in.
Last year, a similar incident happened in a Cornish town after molluscs kept eating the post.
Residents of Marazion, near Penzance, complained to Royal Mail after two boxes were closed within days of one another.
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