Groups based on an Oxford estate have attacked the state of the area's postal service.

Organisations that use the Barton Neighbourhood Centre say they suffer delays and claim the service has become unreliable.

Royal Mail has admitted there is a problem, blaming staff shortages.

Oxfordshire Advocacy Development Group, which provides advocates for people who are vulnerable or have difficulty speaking out for themselves, has postponed shortlisting candidates who have applied for a job.

Barton Surgery said delays in receiving letters was resulting in problems in organising transport for patients to hospital -- and medical test results had been delayed.

Administrator Gill Cox said: "It has just been an absolute nightmare. Nothing is getting through," she said.

"Royal Mail put it down to a lack of trained staff, which doesn't help patients and clients who are desperate." The Oxford Mail revealed last week how Barton resident Sheena Partlett had missed an appointment for important hospital tests because a letter from the Radcliffe Infirmary took five weeks to arrive.

Residents have complained about casual workers delivering on the estate who do not know the area and have been posting letters late or to the wrong addresses.

Gwyn Williams, delivery manager for Oxfordshire, said four workers had been seconded to the Royal Mail's Headington office because about a third of its positions were vacant.

He admitted: "I would apologise because the service hasn't been up to scratch.

"We are going through structural changes at the moment to increase people's pay to make being a postman or woman more attractive in the local economy.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel."