AN MP has taken the issue of East Lancashire's postal delays to the top of the Royal Mail, having been banned from visiting the sorting office in his constituency.

Burnley MP Peter Pike was not allowed in because of the local and European elections and has now written to Royal Mail chairman Alan Leighton and chief executive Adam Crozier, demanding action to sort out the chaos.

He had earlier in the month tried to speak to them on the phone but neither was available, so he raised the issue with Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt in the House of Commons instead.

She promised to alert Mr Leighton and Mr Crozier to the problem.

Now Mr Pike has taken the fight directly to the two top men in the Royal Mail.

He said: "I have written to them both about the problem.

"I had intended to visit the Burnley sorting office on Friday morning but this was not allowed as we are in an election period.

"However, the postal workers themselves asked me to visit and see for myself the chaos they are working in.

"The change to a single delivery has caused absolute chaos to household and business deliveries in Burnley.

"I know this from the letters and emails I am getting, not only on this matter but in terms of my case files, where letters are being delayed and crossing each other in the post.

"And of course I know from my own mail at home and at my office. The Post Office has failed to plan this change to a single delivery or to discuss and agree with their workforce or unions how the changes will be implemented.

"Urgent action is needed now to resolve the problems."

The trade union blame the sorting office delays and massive backlogs on the increased workload after the Royal Mail's decision to axe the second post and opt for a single delivery.

They said that machinery problems, sickness, staff shortages and May Bank Holiday weekend had worsened the situation.

There are fears that the problems could affect next month's local authority and European elections, which are to be controversially conducted by all-postal ballot.

Colin Rigby, Conservative leader on Blackburn with Darwen Council, has "grave concerns" over whether the Royal Mail in the area is up to the job of handling the postal ballot.