The Bedminster postbox that has become a litter bin

It’s the kind of sight that would make Postman Pat’s heart sink – a postbox in Bristol that has been repurposed by litter louts as a rubbish bin.

Perhaps it is because there are two post boxes right next to each other on this spot in Bedminster, but it can’t be because there’s a lack of other bins – there’s one at a bus stop just yards away.

But for the past few months at least – maybe even years – one of the two post boxes has been filled up with so much rubbish that no one would ever dream of trying to get a letter or package posted in there.

READ MORE: Work on ‘Bedminster Green’ regeneration to finally begin

The phenomenon came to light a few months ago when the front of the postbox was removed, exposing the fact that the cage to catch the letters inside – and that only served to encourage even more litter to be posted in the slot at the top.

The postbox is one of two located between Bedminster’s Asda and the former tobacco factory, where East Street becomes Bedminster Parade.

It was photographed by Bristol Freegle, who posted the pic on Twitter, and said it had been like this for a long time.

“Originally there was a large oval postbox with two post slots,” they said. “Then when they repaved and did up the bus stops it was changed to two separate post boxes. Goodness knows why two identical boxes were needed.

“I’m not sure how long the front has been off the postbox on the right – quite a few months, and long enough to be ‘normal’ to passers by,” they added.

With the bin not an official bin and the postbox no longer in use as a postbox, it remains to be seen how long it will be before either Bristol City Council, Bristol Waste or the Royal Mail take responsibility for emptying it – or where they’ll deliver all the rubbish to.

Want our best stories with fewer ads and alerts when the biggest news stories drop? Download our app on iPhone or Android.