Sir — Yesterday my wife and I left our house at 9am to go out for the day, just at that moment we noticed the police helicopter hovering over our estate.

After watching it for a few minutes we drove off, leaving our front door wide open (a senior moment) despite the possibility of ne'er do wells or burglars at large in the area.

Upon our return our neighbour came round to explain that Lee our local postman had knocked on her door asking if she knew our whereabouts.

After checking that there was no one in the house that shouldn't be there and that we were out they secured the door.

The Post Office these days seems mainly to suffer brickbats and complaints and so I think it is worth noting that our village postie still keeps a weather eye on his customers whilst on his round. Also although people generally do not spend hours gossiping over the garden fence it is also comforting to have neighbours who look out for each other.

Peter Walker, Long Hanborough