ROYAL Mail was today accused of providing a "second class service" to hundreds of homes in York.

Fed-up businessman Ken Bell has been a critic of deliveries in the Beckfield Lane area of Acomb since last summer.

But he said it was the "final straw" when a vital driving document was posted late last week.

When he complained, he claimed one postman told him delivery of letters to homes in his street was a "goodwill" service, as it depended on staff working overtime.

Mr Bell, 40, who runs a removal service, said he was told the round was too big for the postman currently doing the job, who has to work normal shifts due to family commitments.

So when the large patch, which takes in Beckfield Lane and Wetherby Road and numerous neighbouring streets, is not completed the letters do not get delivered until another postman is free and agrees to take on overtime.

He said: "This is what is happening all the time. We're getting a second class service. Post is often getting here at 3pm or 4pm, if at all.

"Why should this round be an overtime round? Surely, the postman currently doing it should be put on another round or there should be someone who comes to help.

"The Royal Mail is cutting corners and it's not fair on the postmen."

Mr Bell stressed he had no problem with postmen but with the system they worked under.

Dave Dowling, local branch secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said some rounds were completed through staff working overtime, depending on staff shortages and absences.

Mr Bell's case, he said, highlighted the debate about whether people wanted a profit-making or public service postal service.

He said: "Our view is we should recruit enough staff so there are enough people to deliver mail six days a week."

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said measures had been taken to improve delivery times in the Acomb area.

She declined to comment specifically on claims about the Beckfield Lane round, but said: "We will continue to monitor the situation and take any further necessary action.

"Although we aim to deliver mail in urban areas by lunchtime, six days a week, our postal delivery licence does not specify any set delivery time of day."

We reported last July how Royal Mail apologised to dozens of households and businesses in Acomb who missed out on mail after a postman finished a shift with some letters still in his bag.

Mr Bell complained and was told nobody had been willing to do overtime.

Updated: 10:00 Friday, April 15, 2005