A whole new area of greater York is now getting one post per day instead of two - and business protestors want to monitor times of mail delivery.

The delivery system which triggered outrage from the business community in the centre of the city, including YO1, YO10, YO19 and YO 30, 21 and 32, has now spread to York West (postcodes YO23, YO24 and YO26).

Firms were thrown into chaos when mail did not arrive until lunchtime or even much later, and a head on meeting last month between business organisations and Royal Mail officials resulted in an agreement to meet again when promised improvements will have kicked in.

Now the protesters want detailed daily accounts of post arrival times from volunteers in each of the affected postal areas throughout this week so that next Monday, March 8, they can gauge improvements or otherwise when they meet Royal Mail officials again, this time at the Leeman Road sorting office in York.

Protest leader Adam Sinclair, chairman of the York Chamber of Trade and owner of Mulberry Hall glass specialist shop in York said today: "Our impression is that times have got better but it is still not right.

"Our post arrived yesterday at 10.45am and this is totally unacceptable.

"We need to find out from as many businesses in as many postal areas as we can exactly what is happening. It is important that we have this information."

Gerry Gray, of Grosvenor Financial Consultants, who is co-organiser of the protest, said his post arrived at 11am yesterday.

He said: "It brought complete disruption to our business.

"The fee-earners of the business were not able to get out to necessary appointments.

"I am sure that in spite of promises of improvements there are hundreds of other firms suffering similarly and losing money as a result of the cost-cutting measures.

"We don't mind Royal Mail cutting costs by reducing from two deliveries to one, but we want an early first delivery - and it's as simple as that.

"We are not prepared to shore up Royal Mail at our expense."

Is your business seriously affected by late deliveries?

Then you can help to ease the problem by monitoring postal delivery times over the next four working days.

After the four days, email the details to Gerry Gray, at gerryg@grosvenor-financial-consultants.co.uk or faxing them to him at 01904 610555. Don't forget to state your postcode.

Updated: 09:47 Tuesday, March 02, 2004