Mystery over the missing post box

A Shrewsbury resident was left bemused today when he went to mail a letter at his local post box, only to find it had disappeared.

Dave Roberts, 48, had only delivered a letter at the box in Belle Vue Road last night and it was there then. But when he went to deliver two more letters this morning the box had gone, with no warning.

Mr Roberts, a mortgage broker who lives in Belle Vue Road, said: "I spoke to the sorting office and they didn't know anything about it and I couldn't get hold of Royal Mail's network and collections number. I had two letters to post this morning including an entry to a Shropshire Star competition. There was no sign or anything."

A Royal Mail spokesman today confirmed the box had gone but said it was planned to replace it.

He said: "The pillar box was on private property and in the way of a new development. The owners asked us to remove it, which is their right."