Post in Oxford is being dumped at the wrong addresses by casuals taken on to deal with the backlog, according to people living in the north of the city

A resident from Grantham House in Cranham Street, Jericho, said: "I have mail here for about four or five different addresses in Cranham Terrace. We found a whole stack of mail just dumped in the reception to the building.

"I rang Royal Mail to complain and when I explained the situation the person I spoke to said, 'Oh, not again'. I understand the Royal Mail has drafted in people from employment agencies and taken regular postmen off their delivery jobs so they can clear the post backlog, but I do not believe the casuals are being vetted properly."

Royal Mail spokesman Floyd Jebson said extra manpower has been taken on to help clear mail that built up during the strike. He confirmed casuals might be responsible for letters going astray, but defended the vetting procedures of the employment agencies the Royal Mail used.

"We employ casual staff year-round because the work fluctuates, so this is not something new," he said.

"Temporary staff were put on to delivery rounds because experienced workers were needed for sorting mail, which is the more demanding part of the job."

Mr Jebson apologised for any inconvenience caused and said: "Anyone who has been delivered mail to the wrong address should get in touch with the Royal Mail and we will make arrangements to collect it and deliver it to the correct addresses. Alternatively, people can put mail that is not for them back in the letter box."

He said the post backlog, caused by an eight-day long unofficial strike by some workers earlier this month, should be cleared at Royal Mail House, Osney Lane, Oxford, and at Headington delivery office.