THE widow of a former postman who is still waiting for a Mother's Day card to arrive has described Oxfordshire's postal service as "the worst it's ever been".

Diana Gough, whose husband Desmond worked at the Becket Street depot for 42 years, contacted The Oxford Times after the county's first-class post was rated the fifth worst in Britain.

Mrs Gough, of Mill Street in Eynsham, has yet to see her son's Mother's Day card - even though it was posted more than a week ago.

The 65-year-old, who was widowed 11 years ago, said: "Desmond worked at the Oxford branch for 42 years and never - and I mean never - has the Royal Mail been so bad.

"In all the years he was there our mail was delivered promptly and efficiently.

"The service certainly is not the service it was, even though we are told it is undergoing a wide-ranging modernisation.

"I still have not received my Mother's Day card.

"It is so important to me, as I am now on my own, so you can imagine how upset I am.

"My son has said 'mum, the mail has just gone to pot since Dad died'.

"In the last three days my mail arrived at 1.30pm, noon and 11.30am - does the Royal Mail think this is a modern service?"

Royal Mail spokeswoman Jane Thomas said: "We are always concerned to learn of problems with the delivery of mail."

Customers experiencing problems with mail delivery should contact Royal Mail on 08457 740740.

  • Olive Bullen, 76, of Avon Road in Grove, has still not received cards and letters sent ahead of her birthday in October last year.

She said: "My sister and I had recently lost two of our brothers within 11 hours of each other and it was a poignant time for us, regardless of the fact it was my birthday.

"When I made inquiries I found at least four letters, posted from Norwich, Watford, Tunbridge Wells and one from my sister in Kent, had not arrived.

"It is so infuriating, so frustrating. What do we pay this postage for?"

  • Gladys Collins, 74, from Chandlers Close, in Wantage, said: "It was my brother's birthday on February 3 and I was going away the week previously so I posted his card on January 25.

"I live in Wantage and he lives in Grove so it's under two miles away.

"I used a second-class stamp because there was no rush.

"I put it in the local postbox at the sorting office in Wantage.

"He still has not got it. I just feel so cross and wonder if it is worth posting these things."

  • Hilary Wilson, 68, from Chalgrove, received a birthday card sent by first-class post six days after it was posted in central Oxford.

She said: "I personally only use first-class post and would expect a second-class letter to arrive in that time.

"Do I now have to allow nearly a week for first-class post to arrive locally?"