Royal Mail is forced to close postbox because snails keep EATING people's mail

By RORY TINGLE, HOME AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT

Published: | Updated:

Royal Mail has been forced to close a country postbox after discovering snails have been eating the mail. 

The red box on the B1341 in Adderstone, Northumberland, has been closed since July this year and has a sign on it that says 'not in use, snails eating mail'.

Northumberland County councillor Guy Renner-Thompson told MailOnline: 'I drive by the postbox every day. 

'At first I thought the box had been shut for road resurfacing but then I saw the sign about the snails.

'I thought it was a joke at first but apparently it's a real thing. I've seen them closed for birds nesting before, but never snails!

The red box on the B1341 in Adderstone, Northumberland, has been closed since July this year and has a sign on it that says 'not in use, snails eating mail'

The red box on the B1341 in Adderstone, Northumberland, has been closed since July this year and has a sign on it that says 'not in use, snails eating mail'

Northumberland County councillor Guy Renner-Thompson told MailOnline: 'I thought it was a joke at first but apparently it's a real thing'

Northumberland County councillor Guy Renner-Thompson told MailOnline: 'I thought it was a joke at first but apparently it's a real thing'

'It's not the first time we've had issues with this postbox. Last year it went missing and we suspect it was stolen for scrap.

'It was later replaced.'  

Mr Renner-Thompson said that despite the postbox being 'very remote' it served local residents and farmers who were keen to see it up and running again. 

He added: 'It's a very well used box although it's in the middle of nowhere. 

'The residents will be looking forward to it going back in operation.'

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: 'A post box may be temporarily closed due to a wildlife infestation, we then take steps to resolve it and will reopen as soon as possible.

'In the meantime, we advise customers to use their nearest convenient post box.'

It's not the first time a postbox has been closed because of snails eating the mail, with one in Cornwall suffering the same fate last year

It's not the first time a postbox has been closed because of snails eating the mail, with one in Cornwall suffering the same fate last year

Royal Mail expect the post box to reopen this week.

It's not the first time a postbox has been closed because of snails eating the mail, with one in Cornwall suffering the same fate last year. 

Residents trying to post their letters in the town of Marazion were met by a message reading: 'TEMP CLOSURE SNAILS EATING MAIL'. 

Royal Mail

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