Sir.-I don't believe the postal spin machine which claims that services are getting better.

Earlier this year we sent a birthday card to our grandson in Bath, which failed to reach him.

Showing admirable determination, my wife posted a second one. That didn't arrive either.

He received the rest of his cards from other parts of the country, which suggested that the problem was at the Basingstoke end.

In my letter of complaint to Royal Mail, I pointed out that both cards were posted at the Lychpit Centre, and asked to be kept informed of the result of their security probe.

Their reply, which included two books of stamps as compensation, wasn't worth the paper it was written on. The stamps did not cover the cost of the two cards and postage, and they brushed aside my security query.

I complained to Postwatch - the postal services watchdog - which promised to investigate, but warned me to be patient because it is "receiving an unprecedented number of complaints".

Postwatch signed off its letter, dated October 13, by warning me that it did not guarantee a more favourable outcome.

Postal services getting better? You must be joking!

-Cliff Mogg, Blackberry Walk, Lychpit, Basingstoke.