FIRST class postal services in the Salisbury postcode area, which includes Andover, are among the 20 worst performing in the country for delivering next-day post.
Postwatch figures have revealed that the SP postcode area is in joint 11th position along with Ipswich in the bottom 20 of performers.
Ten out of 14 postcode areas in the South West are not meeting their targets for next day delivery of first class mail.
The national target for first class mail is that at least 92.5 per cent should reach its destination anywhere in the UK the next day.
None of the 122 individual postcode areas in the UK should fall below 90 per cent.
Salisbury joins Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Swindon, Southampton, Taunton and Torquay in falling below 92.5 per cent.
The report says that although Salisbury and Plymouth increased their performance and are meeting the minimum standard, both places feature in the worst 20 performing postcode areas.
Charles Howeson, chairman of Postwatch South and West, said: "It is extremely disappointing to see that in the end-of-year figures for Royal Mail performance that ten out of 14 postcode areas in this region are missing their target for first class mail.
"This is not good enough for customers.
"We will be seeking explanations from Royal Mail and assurances that performance will improve."
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