Once upon a time the Royal Mail was the pride of the nation.

Fast, reliable and secure, it showed the rest of the world how a postal service should be run. Our postmen wore their badge with pride.

Now it is difficult finding enough people to wear the uniform in the first place.

Whether its decline has something to do with various Governments displaying a messanic determination to break the Post Office monopoly is immaterial. The awful truth is the system is not working.

Certainly not when a 71-year-old retired postie has to resort to organising an unofficial delivery service for himself and his neighbours in Barton.

Industrial unrest cannot be blamed for that situation. It had gone on long before the walkout.

The Royal Mail's reaction is not unexpected. It is unaware of any problems in the Barton area and is more concerned in finding out who is aiding and abetting the freelance deliveryman.

There is none so blind as those who prefer not to see.