Sir - At 10.30 this morning I joined the queue at the main Post Office. There were two active counters that I could see apart from the bureau de change where you could walk up and get instant service even though Oxford has dozens of other outlets for this facility.

I had already been to the Cowley Road Post Office having checked online that it did renew car tax. This is wrong - they do not.

After five more minutes of muttering I went up to a lady and enquired why there were only two active customer points to be told that there were three and another was shortly to become active. I presume she was counting her own position which had its light on but did not call any customers.

After 13 minutes and a queue of well over 20 customers, progress started to be made. She had certainly stood behind the desk drinking her coffee among other things and generally taking a break. She was the manager.

I was eventually served by a friendly apologetic lady who told me that they had problems and I left at five to 11. May I suggest that instead of making us all stand patiently in a queue that the premises are shut so that they can have a coffee break and then we would all know not to try to get into the Post Office at that time of the day and avoid many frustrations. I suppose Health and Safety now prohibits anyone having a coffee at their desk while they are working!

Christine Colbeck, Oxford