Norwich couple receive postal votes two years late

But it is less common for them to arrive quite this long overdue…

A Norwich couple have been left baffled after receiving a stack of post three years after the letters were meant to arrive.

Robin and Maureen Clare, who live just off Aylsham Road, have described the error as “dubious” after Royal Mail claimed the items were likely stuck down the back of machinery. 

Robin Clare with the missing letters (Image: Eleanor Storey) The pair were puzzled after receiving their postal votes for the Norwich City Council elections last week – before realising the packs had been sent ahead of the 2022 polls.

They also found a birthday card for Maureen on their doormat, which had a postage stamp from 2021. 

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Mr Clare said: “I just want to know where they’ve been for three years. We were a bit shocked when these turned up in the post.

“It’s just a bit bizarre.”

The couple managed to vote in the 2022 elections after realising their postal votes hadn’t arrived and asking for new packs to be sent out. 

The 2022 postal votes and late birthday card (Image: Eleanor Storey) Mr Clare added: “I could have missed out on that vote if I didn’t query it. 

“Royal Mail tell me they were probably lost down the back of a machine but it seems a bit dubious to me that three items got lost and arrived on the same day. The odds seem unlikely.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “While the vast majority of mail arrives on time there are very few occasions, whether due to human error or otherwise, where an item may be misplaced.

“For example, a birthday card may fall behind machinery. We are under an obligation to deliver all items of mail and so once found we will endeavour to deliver it to the correct address.”