Monday’s One 2 Three on Phoenix brought a couple of stories about Royal Mail and their difficulty in dealing with raspberries and the tale of a postman who made an unusual delivery…

A man has been warned that he may be refused post due to his “aggressive” raspberry bush.

Mike Stevens was visited by a Royal Mail boss who told him that his plant was a health hazard to postal staff.

The 67-year-old was informed that he needed to trim back the seven foot bush as the “fierce growth” could injure someone.

The pensioner from Shropshire said: “What is the world coming to?

“It is the postal service making the problem, not my raspberries. They are not malicious.

“They came round and told me they were aggressive raspberries.”

He added: “It was a visit out of the blue. I have got a fierce growth apparently and the postmen are intimidated and threatened by it.

“But at the end of the day they are just raspberries and they taste lovely.”

Stevens began growing the fruit five years ago and the bush grows by two inches each day. The retired schoolteacher said that he is happy for the postworkers coming to his door to help themselves to raspberries.

Val Bodden from the Royal Mail said: “Following concerns expressed by a postwoman regarding access problems, a Royal Mail manager and a CWU union safety officer visited the ­premises.

“The owner agreed to tie back the bushes blocking the path to his letter box.

“We will not compromise on the health and safety of our postmen and women.”

And an Exeter postman has been caught urinating on a couple’s doorstep.

Exe Street residents Luke Osborne and Keyleigh Rawlings explained that they had decided to take action against the culprit after leaving the house to a urine-covered doorstep on numerous mornings.

Osborne explained: “For months now my partner and I have been having to walk through urine on our front steps. I had to wash the steps down constantly as the smell was horrendous.

“Keyleigh is expecting our baby… and it is just so unhealthy. The entrance to our flat is secluded with steps up to the front door.

Osborne decided to hide behind the door to see if it was the handiwork of drunk residents, but was left shocked when he discovered it was the postman.

He said: “When I went out, there he was, full-frontal, relieving himself. I couldn’t believe it.

“This is the Royal Mail, they deliver in the Queen’s name and there he was having a wee on my front step.”

The couple proceeded to report the employee to the Royal Mail.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “Royal Mail expects the highest standards of behaviour from our people while out on deliveries and this individual will now face internal disciplinary measures.
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