CONCERNS have been raised over changes to postal collections in Norton.

In a letter to the town council, resident Clive Inman said he had recently been made aware of changes in the times post was collected.

"The times now quoted at the boxes are 9am and 7am, Monday to Friday and Saturday," he added.

"These times appear to me to be unreasonable and to my knowledge, have not been announced in the local press or elsewhere."

Mr Inman said: "Mail posted throughout the day appears to remain overnight in the boxes, inviting mischief by vandals and causing unnecessary delay to items, even if sent first class."

Members of the town council said there did appear to be some confusion over collection times.

Cllr Phillip Mooring said: "I have a post box by my house but have found that the post now goes at 9am which means I have to go to the main post office at Malton if I want it to go that day."

Cllr David Lloyd-Williams added: "We have always expected a collection twice a day so to just have one in the morning is going to affect a lot of people.

"Clarification is needed to find out what is going on."

Royal Mail spokesperson, Morag Turnbull, said: “We would like to reassure all our customers in the Malton and Norton area that we will retain a high level of access to late collection posting facilities (4pm or later). Existing post-boxes further than half a mile from a late posting facility are not included as part of these changes.

“The changes will mean that the mail collection from certain postboxes will be carried out by the local postman or woman on their delivery route, at a time dependent on where the box is located on that route. This will typically be between 9am and 3pm in urban and suburban areas Monday to Friday and no earlier than 7am on a Saturday. The indicator tab on the postbox will show if the collection has been made.

She added: “Clear sign-posting will be provided for customers on the relevant postboxes, indicating where their nearest late posting box is.

“A significant decline in letter volumes means that many postboxes no longer cover their costs. Instead of taking the step to decommission uneconomic postboxes, Royal Mail has introduced changes to its collections arrangements.”