HERE are just a few of the comments from local businesses so Royal Mail can understand just what "progress" to date has meant - and as a cautionary lesson about what might happen elsewhere ...

Jonathan Abbott, of scarlettabbott, advertising design consultancy, Haxby Road, York: "For a deadline-orientated company, having a delivery at 3pm is appalling. We pay top dollar for the postal service - and 'service' is not what we're getting."

Andrew Curry, of Glen Garage Suzuki, Hawthorne Grove, York: "It is now noon on Friday February 6. The last mail delivery we have received was 2.30pm on Wednesday, February 4. Previously we always received two substantial deliveries every day."

Brian Bell, managing director of BJ Lighting Supplies, Hallfield Road, Layerthorpe: "This is causing disruption to our essential business. We only require delivery before 9am as before."

Zoe Plummer, Fulford Builders (York) Limited, Clifton Moor Business Village, Clifton: "Until we posted a lookout to hijack a postman making a paid-for delivery to a near neighbour (for some reason he's carrying the unpaid-for mail anyway) the post was coming in at 11.30am. Even so, our hijacking means a 10am delivery.

Quentin Haley-Jarvis, piano teacher, Algarth Rise, Stockton Lane, York: "Early morning delivery is vital so that it can be dealt with before starting teaching. Any cheques or responses to requests from parents, Inland Revenue etc have to be delayed by a day."

Gavin Tulley, consulting engineer, Oakland Avenue, Stockton Lane, York: "Deliveries are after 1pm delaying business by 24 hours plus."

Stuart Sykes, Blue Moon Trading, Goodramgate, York: "As a mail order company we are in grave danger of letting customers down on our promise of next-day delivery. The mail has arrived as late as 1.30pm which we have to process in a screaming rush before the 2pm arrival of our carriers. Customers pay for a first-class stamp, yet get second-class service."

Updated: 11:28 Thursday, February 12, 2004