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Royal Mail refuse to deliver to pensioner's home - because his 'aggressive' raspberry bush is health hazard
Mike Stevens, 67, who started growing the bush five years ago, was stunned to be issued with the health hazard warning because of the fruit growing by his front door.
Postmen are refusing to deliver mail to a pensioner's rural home - because his raspberry bush is an 'aggressive' health and safety risk.
Mike Stevens, 67, who started growing the bush five years ago, was stunned to be issued with the health hazard warning because of the fruit growing by his front door.
The dad-of-two was confronted at his home by a Royal Mail manager and a CWU postal union health and safety officer on last week.
They claimed the 7ft tall bush was in danger of injuring their staff and unless he trimmed it back they would stop delivering to his house.
Retired teacher Mike, who has lived in the property in Market Drayton, Shrops, for 15 years, said: 'It is the postal service making the problem, not my raspberries. They are not malicious.
'I have got raspberries all around my garden and all of a sudden they have sprung up around my letter box.
'The Royal Mail say it is dangerous. They came round and told me they were aggressive raspberries. 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.
'I've told the postmen they are more than welcome to help themselves to a punnet of them but they are having none of it.
'They are growing vigorously this year because we had a late Spring.
'But they haven't got any thorns on them and they are not like nasty brambles so I don't see what the problem is.'
Mike revealed the bush is currently growing two or three inches taller each day but said he is more than happy for the posties to help themselves to raspberries when they visit.
Val Bodden, a spokesperson for Royal Mail, said: 'Following concerns expressed by a postwoman delivering to an address in Market Drayton, regarding access problems, a Royal Mail manager, accompanied by a CWU postal union health and safety officer, visited the premises.
'They spoke to the owner and he agreed to tie back the bushes blocking the pathway to his letterbox and we were satisfied with his response.
'Royal Mail will not compromise on the health and safety of our postmen and women.'
