The Royal Mail has apologised to dozens of customers in Oxford after two mail bags were stolen.

Two men smashed the back window of a parked postal van, snatched the bags and drove off.

The mail was due to be delivered to homes in Belvedere Road, Bartlemas Close, Southfield Park and part of Cowley Road.

The Royal Mail has sent letters of apology and advised customers to contact anyone from whom they were expecting correspondence.

The theft occurred in Nuneham Courtenay, on the A4074, at about 8am on Monday, after the postman parked his van and was on his village round.

He was later due to drive to east Oxford and make deliveries there, as the regular postman was away.

No-one has been arrested and the two bags, bearing the Royal Mail logo, have yet to be recovered. David Manners, of Belvedere Road, was expecting several important letters, including a bank statement.

He did not realise what had happened until he asked his postman why mail had not been delivered. He was told that letters for the area had been stolen.

He said: "It's an inconvenience. I was expecting correspondence and I don't know whether it has been stolen or not. I'm having to break off with other things to deal with this.

"There's no offer to assist in any way. I'm involved with a number of organisations and I may have to write to 200 people. They might have at least offered to pay for the postage." The letter of apology arrived on Tuesday and assured customers such incidents were rare and that the Royal Mail placed "the highest priority on the security of customers' mail and the safety of its employees".

When Mr Manners called the customer services number given on the letter, staff knew nothing about it.

A Royal Mail spokesman said they regretted the theft and said everything was being done with the police to find the missing post.

The offenders were both white and one wore a baseball cap. They drove off in a white car, believed to be a Ford Orion, towards Dorchester.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman urged anyone with information to come forward, or to call 01844 264920.