Terror dog scares off posties

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Terror dog scares off posties - leaving whole street without Royal Mail deliveries

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LETTERS have not been delivered to residents for months because a dog has been terrorising the postman on their street.

Homes in Chestnut Grove, Sandiacre, have not received their mail since August 4 – after a postman was bitten.

The front door at the address where the dog lives, has a sign (pictured) showing a German shepherd dog with the words: "One step more and you will feel my jaw".

Last night the Royal Mail said it hoped to get deliveries back to the ten homes by Christmas after "a risk assessment".


But Brian Kirk, 81, is fed up of the two-mile round trip to Sandiacre Post Office, in Derby Road, to pick up his mail.

He said: "I haven't had my mail for months. I can understand why they don't deliver to the house with the dog, but why should I suffer? It's ridiculous."

Mr Kirk, who has lived on the street since 1966, said: "I have breathing problems and need my inhalers. I only feel like I can make that trip once a week. Sometimes bills arrive late and I end up behind."

The postman, who claims to have been bitten by the dog and does not want to be named, said: "I've got puncture marks on my elbow and a puncture mark on my back. I'm not frightened of dogs but it has changed my whole perception of them.

"For the first few weeks if there was a dog on a drive or in a house I wouldn't go in."

But some delivery services are still braving it– Mr Kirk still receives menus from pizza takeaways and the Nottingham and Long Eaton Topper.

Roy Pearson, also of Chestnut Grove, said he has only seen the dog outside twice.

"I don't fancy picking up my Christmas cards from the Post Office," said the 84-year-old. "I understand if it was just that house they were not delivering to, but there are a lot of elderly people on the street. It's an absolute farce."

Royal Mail said it has already taken legal action to force the owner to take safety measures.

A spokeswoman said: "We would like to apologise to affected customers and reassure them that deliveries will be reinstated before Christmas."

The Post contacted the dog's owner. Michael Bandari, 28, speaking on behalf of his mother, who owns the dog, he said: "The dog has been living there for eight years and had never attacked anyone before.

"To my neighbours, I'm sorry.

"I didn't realise what was happening with the post, so I do apologise for the inconvenience."

In Colwick last year, deliveries were suspended in Candle Meadow Estate. Spruce Gardens, Bulwell, also had deliveries put on hold in February 2013 after "near misses".

In December 2012, the Post revealed that 320 attacks had been made on posties by animals, mostly dogs, in the previous four years.