Royal Mail cuts off entire Leeds estate after dog bites postman

Maria Lavery of Greenthorpe Hill who, along with residents on the Bramley estate, hasn't been recieved her mail since the start of October

The ban on 162 households on the Greenthorpe Estate means residents have to trek over a mile to the nearby Royal Mail depot in Bramley to collect their post in person.

Locals from Greenthorpe Mount, Greenthorpe Hill, Greenthorpe Walk and Greenthorpe Road say they are ‘fed up’ with the situation which currently has no end in sight.

The incident, believed to involve a roaming brindle terrier cross breed, understood to be from a house in the local area, is one of the 4,000 animal attacks on UK postal workers each year. Elderly residents are stuck and all residents have to go through security checks with valid IDs to get mail at the sorting office.

In the meantime Royal Mail has placed notices around the estate notifying people that they will not be getting mail.

Maria Lavery, of Greenthorpe Hill, said: “We’ve had no post for a month. It’s annoying as we’ve not been told what is happening with no explanation from Royal Mail. We are fed up. My neighbour missed her birthday cards and couldn’t get to collect them. I have a rottweiler which is kept under control and not allowed to roam free.”

Diane Boolemiller, of Greenthorpe Road, said: “My older neighbours have had to collect their post. We’ve been told so many different things by police, the dog warden, we just want answers.”

Councillor Ann Blackburn (Green, Farnley and Wortley) said: “It is a ridiculous situation and this can’t go on.”

Felicity MacFarlane, of the Royal Mail, said: “Royal Mail is now formally suspending deliveries and we will be writing to affected customers. We apologise for the inconvenience but our priority is the health and safety of staff. They should be allowed to deliver without fear of attack.”

Royal Mail are now seeking assurances that the dog will be secure and not roaming free.