Margaret and Martin Bailey-Dalton were forced to shut Grovehill Road Post Office in February because of cuts nationwide, despite huge local opposition to the closure.

The couple, who had bought the business only weeks before they learned it was under threat, have since gained planning permission to convert the building for residential use and put it up for sale.

The couple are now trying to start a new future for themselves but they say they have been waiting for months for Royal Mail to remove the post box from their land outside the former shop, which they fear could delay the sale.

Mrs Bailey-Dalton said they had told Royal Mail bosses last August that the box would have to go if the post office was closed, and have since repeated their requests for it to be removed. Despite threatening legal action over the issue, the couple were this week still waiting for action.

On Monday Royal Mail sealed up the post box, after Mr Bailey-Dalton took action himself to tape it up, and Royal Mail officials say it is due to be removed today (Friday).

Mrs Bailey-Dalton said: "The box is in our front garden, which is no longer a public right of way. We have been requesting that the box should be removed as soon as possible, and the delay is protracting our agony. We want to move on, but this has been making things worse because we have been trying to sell the property and everyone who has viewed it has said 'what about the post box?'."

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "We apologise to the owners of the former Grovehill Post Office premises for the delay in the removal of the post box which is sited on their land. We did try to remove the box on June 13 but our engineer couldn't gain access to the box with his heavy machinery as a car was parked in front of it."

The spokesman said the post box was sealed on Monday and would be removed today.

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