Tooting MP Sadiq Khan has said he was "flabbergasted" after learning that a set of lost keys led to a dozen Tooting post boxes being permanently sealed.

Mr Khan quizzed Royal Mail bosses this morning about the blunder after learning that the 12 post boxes have been blocked off for the past fortnight, preventing any mail being posted at all.

To compound residents' misery, Royal Mail will now have to change all of the individual locks and were unable to provide Mr Khan with a date when the work will be completed.

The Shadow Justice Minister said: "I contacted Royal Mail as soon as I heard from local residents that they had noticed their local post boxes were sealed.

"When Royal Mail informed me that all post boxes in the SW17 area have been blocked due to a set of keys being lost, I was flabbergasted.

"The loss of one set of keys should not be able to lead to such chaos.

"I have been reassured by Royal Mail that replacement locks have been ordered, and they will let me know as soon as the post boxes are to be reopened.

"I know how much of an inconvenience this is for the people of Tooting, and I am urging Royal Mail to reopen our post boxes as soon as possible.

"In the meantime, local residents can visit my website for further updates."

Frustrated residents, some of whom walked from street to street desperately trying to find a post box, took to Twitter and Facebook to vent their fury.

Royal Mail spokeswoman Sally Hopkins said: "We can confirm that a small number of postboxes in the Tooting area were sealed after a set of collection keys went missing.

"The boxes were cleared of mail before they were sealed so no items were left inside them.

"Royal Mail apologises to its customers in Tooting for any inconvenience this may have caused.

"We are working to change the locks and reopen the boxes as quickly as possible.

"In the meantime, customers can use other postboxes in the area or of course drop their mail off at any Post Office branch."

 

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