ROYAL Mail has come under fire following the late arrival of post – over nine years after it was sent.

A number of Keighley households have just received items posted in March, 2015.

Bosses at Royal Mail say the post had been stolen and was only recently discovered in a locked container.

Stockbridge resident Sue Brewer has received a dozen items, including correspondence relating to her late husband, Harry, who died in February, 2015.

She says: "The items included our marriage certificate, Harry's death certificate and my birth certificate in a recorded delivery envelope – which had been signed for. When I couldn't find the originals at the time – and now I know why – I had to arrange for copies of two of them.

"But most upsetting was a letter from the bereavement team at Bradford Council, offering for Harry's name to be included in a book of remembrance and for a memorial plaque if I wished.

"I knew nothing of the service, and am deeply distressed that I could have done this to honour his memory. I have been robbed of that opportunity.

"There was also correspondence regarding his estate, which would have helped greatly at the time.

"This is not the first occasion I've had problems with my post, and it's totally unacceptable.

"I've submitted a complaint to Royal Mail, but I'm not expecting anything to come of it."

Another resident received items including a car tax renewal notice.

In a covering letter sent out with the delayed post, Royal Mail said the theft had been investigated and "we have taken the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence of this incident".

A company spokesperson told the Keighley News: "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience or distress our customers may have experienced as a result of receiving this mail after such a long time.

"All of the delayed mail was delivered to customers with a covering letter explaining the delay and telling them who to contact should they require further information.

"Royal Mail has a zero-tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women, who are honest and hardworking and who do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely. It is a criminal offence to tamper with or delay the delivery of mail and we always take action against anyone caught doing so."

The company didn't respond to a question about exactly how many customers had been affected.