A GAWBER couple have been left ‘very upset’ by worsening postal problems that put a dampener on their golden wedding anniversary.

Ian Mathers, 75, and Lynn Mathers, 69, feel that Royal Mail failed to deliver on their promises - after the couple received their anniversary cards a week late, with one envelope opened and torn.

Lynn told the Chronicle: “The cards arriving so late and opened made me feel very upset.

“June 12 was our golden wedding anniversary and we were expecting four cards sent by post on June 5.

“They arrived on June 19 along with four other pieces of mail and one envelope was open and torn.

“It’s even more upsetting because that card was sent by an elderly uncle in Wombwell and it wasn’t even stamped.

“The problem has built up where we live, we get things later and later.

“It was quite important to us, when you use a service you expect them to deliver.

“I have reached out to Royal Mail - I took it down to the post office on Saturday and haven’t heard anything back.

“This hasn’t been the first time we’ve had a problem, it’s getting worse.

“I’m partially sighted and I get a paper bank statement because I can’t read it on the computer.

“It used to come on the same date every month religiously, but I can’t count on it now.

“I think there is something very wrong with our post service - you used to be able to rely on it but you can’t rely on it now.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We understand how important personal letters are, particularly for a special occasion such as a golden wedding anniversary.

“We would need further details from the customer, including the envelope, to establish what happened and would encourage them to contact us so we can look into this.”