Special delivery after yobs swipe postboxes

MISSING: The postbox stand in High Crompton, minus the Royal Mail box

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ROYAL Mail has delivered good news to Shaw residents as a number of stolen postboxes in the area have now been replaced.

Last month the Evening Chronicle reported that thousands of Shaw residents were without access to a nearby postbox as mindless yobs continued to steal them.

Five postboxes were stolen from Shaw over a six-month period.

There have now been more than 40 thefts of postboxes in the Oldham, Manchester and Stockport areas in recent months.

Councillor Howard Sykes wrote to the Royal Mail in May to highlight that postboxes on the Glebe Street/Salts Street junction, Longley Street, Hillside Avenue and Milnrow Road, all in Shaw, had disappeared.

Weeks later the Liberal Democrat wrote to them again after it came to his attention that a fifth postbox had vanished in Long Rushes, High Crompton.

Councillor Sykes also criticised Royal Mail for the time taken to replace the postboxes.

New boxes were installed in Hillside Avenue and Long Rushes some weeks ago and now Royal Mail say that two of the others have also been replaced.

Michael Hogg, public affairs manager at Royal Mail Group, said: "I am pleased to inform you that the replacement postboxes in Glebe Street/Salts Street and Longley Street have now been installed.

Delayed

"The postbox in Milnrow Road was due to be installed in February but has been delayed. The results of the scans undertaken to assess the suitability of the location has been unsuccessful, meaning a delay to the installation.

"We have experienced over 40 thefts of postboxes in the Oldham. Manchester and Stockport areas recently. These thefts have been reported to the police and our security teams are assisting them with their investigations."

The Chronicle reported in March that a postbox in Queens Road, Chadderton, had been stolen.

Also, in February, three post boxes in Saddleworth and two in Mossley were snatched by thieves.