A DISAPPEARING post box has caused consternation in a village near York, with locals pleading with Royal Mail to bring back their pillar box.

The post box was removed from the site of the old post office in Upper Poppleton was removed when the site closed in the summer, but as yet no post box has appeared outside the new post office in Poppleton convenience stores in Nether Poppleton and villagers are anxious that their neighbourhood could be left without any provision.

Ward councillor Ian Gillies has written to Royal Mail, asking for the Upper Poppleton post box to be reinstated soon, before the Christmas post starts to overwhelm the two small boxes in the area.

Cllr Gillies said that simply moving the post box to the new Nether Poppleton site will leave the centre of Upper Poppleton without any provision he said - something that would hit older residents particularly hard. He has asked fora new post box to be installed close to the Green, and has written to Royal Mail.

He said: "In the run up to Christmas the small boxes in Station Road and Ebor Way will not cope. They are also a distance away from many homes, particularly the elderly."

The post box was taken away because it was sited on private land, he added.

Over in Nether Poppleton, the village's new sub postmaster Chris Bolton said he has asked for new post box to be installed outside his shop, but is waiting to hear from Royal Mail and his bosses at the Post Office whether his request has been successful.

Ronit Wolfson, Royal Mail spokeswoman, said: “Royal Mail is currently scoping a new location for the Upper Poppleton post box, which was removed following a request from the new property owner. We hope to be able to replace it soon.”