I’m disappointed and annoyed. I have just posted a letter at the main box in the village. In small type a little notice says that “to improve efficiency” Royal Mail is changing the collection time.

Wait for it …

From 4.30pm to 9am Monday to Friday and from 10.30am to 7am on Saturdays.

Now, I could accept maybe an hour or so earlier, but how does 7 1/2 hours earlier improve efficiency and provide a better service.

Especially with the cost of a first class stamp going above £1 shortly. Not exactly a first class service.

I suspect other communities will be about to experience a similar drop in standards.

With national pay talks teetering on the brink of collapse and management threatening to put Royal Mail into administration, something is deeply amiss with the company.