THE Royal Mail has stood by its decision not to put up a postbox despite a protest by angry pensioners who want one nearer their homes.

Elderly residents of St Hugh's Avenue, Windrush Drive and council run sheltered accommodation, Chartridge House, Micklefield, gathered on the corner of Windrush Drive and St Hugh's Avenue where they would like the postbox, on Friday.

Buckinghamshire county councillor Julia Wassell (Lab, Keep Hill and Hicks Farm) joined the campaigning pensioners when she sat on a makeshift postbox at the same spot.

Pensioner Doris Brooks, 92, of St Hugh's Avenue, is furious after Royal Mail refused her request for a box on the grounds that there were two post boxes nearby.

But steep hills leading to the nearest boxes in Hatters Lane and Hicks Farm Rise pose huge problems for elderly residents, many of whom are disabled.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said the request was turned down as Micklefield was considered to be well provisioned with post boxes.

He said: "We understand the need for boxes to be put up at convenient locations and we try to accommodate those needs as much as possible. In this area there are a number of conveniently located boxes within walking distance."

"We have to consider lots of different factors such as location, commercial costs, installation and collections. In this case we declined."

Councillor Wassell has written to Royal Mail asking them to reconsider its decision.