The Royal Mail has apologised for continuing late postal deliveries in the Witney area.

But it hopes matters will improve with the appointment of a new manager at the sorting office.

It is also making an urgent appeal for new employees because it cannot attract staff to bring its workforce up to full strength.

Deliveries to many homes and businesses in the town are still well behind the target time of 9.30am, often arriving an hour or more late.

Floyd Jebson, a spokesman based at Royal Mail's regional headquarters in Birmingham, said: "It is important that we get back to the service that everyone expects.

"We are sorry that it is not up to scratch but, unfortunately, problems still exist.

"The new shift system is still bedding in."

He added: "We are also still short of eight staff.

"It is proving, as in other work situations in the area, difficult to recruit and retain employees."

Royal Mail admitted in September that it was going through a crisis in the Witney area, covered by the OX28 and 29 postcodes.

A temporary manager has been in charge of the delivery office at the town's Station Lane industrial estate.

He has now been replaced by a new permanent manager Gary Parkin, previously manager at Bicester.

Problems in recent weeks have extended to surrounding villages where some days there have no deliveries at all.

Postwatch, the postal service watchdog body, is monitoring the situation.

Regional manager Andy Lewis said: "It is clearly not good enough."