The lost post: The letterboxes that are TOO dangerous for Britain's posties

The 'universal' postal service is under renewed threat because of a sharp increase in the number of homes to which Royal Mail won't deliver on health and safety grounds, campaigners have warned.

Figures obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that the number of households receiving no post because of problems such as slippery paths or letterboxes that slam shut too hard has gone up twelvefold in four years. 

While 22 addresses were blackballed on such 'short-term' health and safety grounds in 2004, two years later that had risen to 167, and by last year there were 262.

Over the same time, the number of homes which get no deliveries because they are so isolated or there is no acceptable road has remained fairly constant.

With Royal Mail now losing money on delivering everyday stamped post, there are fears that exaggerated claims of health and safety risks are being used to justify cutting services in hard-to-reach areas in order to save money.

Earlier this month, more than 30 farms and cottages near Loftus, Cleveland, were told they would no longer have their post delivered because of health and safety concerns over bumpy tracks leading to their homes.

The residents  -  one of whom is registered blind  -  faced a 14-mile round trip to the nearest sorting office if they could not make alternative arrangements.

Such developments have raised the prospect of people in rural areas having to copy the practice in the U.S. and parts of mainland Europe of freestanding postboxes beside the nearest main road to their homes.

Many cases where deliveries have been stopped are due to the age-old problem of dangerous dogs.

But other alleged hazards have included slippery, overgrown paths and a letterbox at the base of a door that forced the postman to stoop.

While the number of addresses receiving no delivery because of difficulty of access  -  for example homes on tiny islands  -  fell last year from 2,017 to 1,977, the number missed on 'long-term' health and safety grounds such as dangerous roads was up by eight to 585.

But the 57 per cent increase in 'short-term' health and safety 'exceptions'  -  as Royal Mail calls them  -  to 262 has alarmed campaigners.

Andy Frewin, of industry watchdog Postwatch, said: 'Of course health and safety is very important, but the risks associated with delivering letters shouldn't be exaggerated.

'For example, if it is safe for a family to live in a house, is it really reasonable to suggest it is too dangerous for letters to be delivered?'

The figures are compiled by industry regulator Postcomm, to which householders denied postal deliveries can ultimately appeal.

A key factor behind the increase is thought to be the fact that amid Britain's compensation culture, companies can't ignore reports of safety concerns otherwise they could be sued if there's an accident.

However, Postwatch says the traditional universal postal service  -  where letters are delivered anywhere in the country for one price  -  is being undermined.

It wants a system that gives customers a chance to put things right if there really is a problem, rather than having their post cut without warning.

Royal Mail has admitted that mounting financial losses are a threat to the one-price post.

But it insists that the number of affected addresses is a tiny proportion of the total and points out that the overall number of ' exceptions'  -  including properties considered too isolated to be served  -  has fallen since 2004.

A spokesman said: 'We're determined to continue making every effort to deliver the mail to the front door of our customers.'