I feel I have to write to you with regards to the critics who are knocking our great posties.

They do a fantastic job, delivering in all weathers and many starting work at very unsociable hours.

While I have never been employed as a postman, I did relief work over Christmas a few years ago. I sorted mail and went on deliveries in Oxfordshire, all in cold weather.

Until the critics have been and seen what goes on to enable us to get our mail delivered, please don’t knock our dedicated postmen and women.

When the people who knock the service come to realise that unforeseen happenings can delay the deliveries, maybe they will be more understanding.

While we all would like the price of postage not to go up, how could we get many letters and so on collected, sorted and delivered for 35p first class? It’s cheaper, of course, if you decide to use second class.

I hope this letter will remind more of your readers to appreciate our postal workforce.

BEN CUMMING, Kestrel Crescent, Cowley, Oxford