Norwich relay post box removal hope after child cuts hand

The disused relay boxes, also known as pouch boxes, were for postal workers to store their mail and to come back to should they have a large chunk of letters they couldn’t carry all at once.

However, now some are causing a potential hazard for passers-by, including in the Larkman, Earlham and Heartsease areas.

The relay boxes, also known as pouch boxes, have been reported scattered around Larkman, Earlham and Heartsease areas – Picture: Darren Wright (Image: Darren Wright)

Darren Wright, who lives near Mousehold Heath, has been campaigning to get the boxes removed after his friend’s three-year-old daughter cut her hand on one in Bowthorpe Road.

READ MORE: Royal Mail referred to regulator over letter delivery

The 39-year-old said: “These are dangerous items that neither the council or mail service are doing anything about.

“Thankfully my friend’s child wasn’t seriously injured but enough to need bandaging up and there was always a worry it could get infected, being so rusty.

Darren Wright, 39, who lives in Mousehold Heath has been trying to get the dangerous and disused relay boxes removed – Picture: Darren Wright (Image: Darren Wright)

“Someone could really hurt themselves on it and animals could catch themselves on the jagged debris if they’re not careful.

“I thought a month would be enough time to get things sorted but four months later and nothing has been done.

“I’ve contacted everyone I could think of, from city and county council to the Post Office and Royal Mail, but no one seems to be taking responsibility.”

A friend of Mr Wright’s three-year-old daughter cut her hand on one of the broken boxes in Bowthorpe Road – Picture: Darren Wright (Image: Darren Wright)

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We’re very sorry to hear a child reportedly cut their hand in this way, and we hope that she is okay.

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“The person affected can pass us their contact details, we are keen to get in touch to discuss this further.

A Royal Mail spokesman said We’re looking into the boxes and will be taking appropriate action to alleviate any problems – Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

“We’re now looking into the boxes and will be taking appropriate action to alleviate any potential problems.”

Mr Wright added: “Checks should be done on the condition of the boxes so that they don’t do any more harm to people.

“Even if they were cordoned off it would make things better.”