THE ROYAL Mail’s regulator Ofcom will investigate postal failures in Harwich and North Essex after concerns were raised by MP Sir Bernard Jenkin MP.

The MP complained about “inadequate responses” from Royal Mail, which split from the Post Office ten years ago when it was privatised, regarding specific local issues in his constituency.

Sir Bernard has now received confirmation from Dame Melanie Dawes, chief executive of Ofcom that the postal regulator “will investigate” the issues.

Commenting on Ofcom’s response, Sir Bernard said: “I am pleased that Ofcom will raise the issues residents have been complaining to me about with Royal Mail. 

“It remains to be seen whether this will rectify the situation.

"I know that local posties are doing their best and prioritising the post that looks the most urgent, like medical appointments, but the overall poor service and the failure of the investigation into what has been happening cannot be allowed to continue.”

OFCOM announced this year the "possibility" of a three-day-a-week postal delivery service alongside other options.

While nationally, the volume of letters has fallen from 20 billion in 2004/5 to seven billion a year in 2022/3 despite the number of addresses increasing by four million in the same period.