PENSIONERS William and Jean Islett were not surprised to read about an Adver survey where two out of 31 letters we posted took 16 days to be delivered.

"That's also the time it took for a cheque we sent off in payment for a holiday to where it was going," said Mr Islett.

If the managers of the holiday park where they had booked had not written to ask if they still intended going there they might have lost the break they were looking forward to.

Their £570 cheque was full advance payment for their caravan vacation in St Ives, Cornwall.

The envelope was correctly addressed and had a first class stamp.

"When we heard that it had not arrived by the date it was due we made arrangements to pay by credit card," said Mr Islett.

Now the couple, who live at White Castle, Toothill, are waiting for an acknowledgement of the complaint form they filled in and sent to Royal Mail.

Royal Mail spokesman Dan Panes said: "It's very difficult without seeing the envelope to ascertain why something took so long in the system.

"But 16 days is abnormal. More than nine out of ten items of first class mail reach their destination the following day."