CHESHIRE East Council is to contact Royal Mail following complaints some residents are receiving post just once a week and some first class mail has taken up to two weeks to arrive.

The Royal Mail told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that sickness absence and resourcing issues were causing disruption to its services in some areas of the borough.

Dane Valley councillor Andrew Kolker fears the situation will only get worse in the run-up to Christmas.

Speaking at yesterday's (Tuesday) meeting of the economy and growth committee, he said: "In many parts of the borough, and in particular my ward, it appears that Royal Mail is really struggling to provide a service.

"My own experience, and that of many who have been in contact with me, is that Royal Mail is struggling to deliver even once a week.

"I've had council papers posted first class which have taken in excess of two weeks to arrive, some not at all."

He added: "It's not only the council which relies on the postal service. Hospital appointments and results, company invoices, bank and credit card statements, the HMRC, solicitors and many, many more rely on the postal service.

"I suggest that we ask the council to write to Royal Mail requesting a definitive position statement."

Committee chair Nick Mannion, who lives in Macclesfield, said he was receiving his mail but understood that was not the case in parts of the borough.

"I'm quite happy to ask that we write to Royal Mail as a matter of urgency on this matter," he said.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "In some areas in Cheshire, we are experiencing some disruption to service due to sickness absence and resourcing issues which we are addressing as quickly as possible.

"We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week. If resourcing issues, associated self-isolation and safety measures prevent this, we'll deliver at least every other day.

"We apologise to customers for any inconvenience they may experience as we work hard to resolve the situation."