I WOULD like to reply to the letters printed (Daily Echo, January 5) with regard to post office hours.

Most post offices close at 12.30pm on Christmas Eve due to the the fact there are no more collections. Therefore any mail or parcels taken after this time will be left in the post office until after Christmas.

As for people not receiving mail on time, they should make the effort and post it early.

My wife works in the post office and if she is lucky she gets two days at home with me and her family, so a half day at Christmas is very welcome.

As for supermarkets running the post, remember most post offices have three or four staff, supermarkets have up to 100.

C G BALLARD, Address supplied.