POSTAL bosses stand accused of doing nothing to solve the problem of post being continually delivered late or not at all in Titchfield Common.

The accusation comes as consumer watchdog Post Watch today branded the Portsmouth postcode district (PO) the 11th worst performing area in the country.

Residents say they are still left with a third class service four months after their complaints sparked a Royal Mail investigation into deliveries by Fareham's Sorting Office.

They say they are regularly waiting for post after midday and in some cases get no deliveries at all.

Mum-of-two Amanda Aldridge, of Penhale Gardens, said: "Just this last week it has been a nightmare.

"Last Wednesday I did not get any post at all and then the next day I got about 20 letters - some of them very late.

"It's very frustrating especially when you are waiting for something important. Even when I complain I don't get a proper answer."

While Mrs Aldridge, 37, spends the morning waiting for her post to arrive, her neighbours in the postcode area - SO31 - get their letters on time as they are served by a different sorting office.

Adrian Booth, Royal Mail spokesman, said staff sickness was to blame for last week's haphazard service.

"There was one point last week where 22 people at Fareham's Sorting Office were suffering from a sickness bout.

"Halfway through one delivery a postman had to go off sick.

"I don't think we have a problem there now, but if we do we would ask customers to let us know so we can put it right."

Since July, Post Watch has received 12 complaints about postal services in the PO14 area. Latest figures show Royal Mail's performance in the Portsmouth (PO) postcode area was one of the worst in the country.

From July to September Royal Mail could not achieve a next-day service of 90 per cent, for letters posted and delivered within the PO district.

Gary Hepburn, regional spokesman, said: "Portsmouth's performance is particularly disappointing. Over the summer we would expect a higher quality of service as there are not the problems of the winter weather to contend with."

Are you unhappy with your postal service? Tell us your story by calling the Daily Echo's Fareham office on 01329 285503.