ROYAL Mail has suspended deliveries to a second Blackburn street after another alleged incident involving a dog.

Residents in Surrey Road, Whitebirk, said they felt ‘unfairly punished’ having gone without post for almost six weeks.

The move comes after deliveries to nearby Worcester Road were cancelled when a postman was bitten in February.

Lancashire police confirmed that the most recent incident took place in Surrey Road on July 7, and Royal Mail issued letters to dozens of homes shortly after to confirm it was stopping deliveries indefinitely.

Shop worker Tracey Wilcock, 40, said it was difficult for her and her partner, Mark Crear, to collect mail from the Blackburn Delivery Office, in Canterbury Street, because of their shift patterns.

She said: “We’ve had two parcels in six weeks but they’ve both been from private couriers. We’re waiting on bills and appointments and it’s difficult to know what to expect.

“We’ve rang Royal Mail and they tell you there’s a certain amount waiting for you but then it’s not there. We feel like we’ve been punished. We don’t even have a dog, why can’t they deliver here?”

Andy McMurray, who also lives in Surrey Road, said Royal Mail vans had been parking on the street despite not delivering letters to homes there.

He said: “If they can park here, why can’t they deliver? It doesn’t make any sense.”

The owner of the dog at the centre of the alleged incident said she felt sorry for her neighbours.

The woman said: “If I have done something wrong I will accept responsiblity for that but I don’t think it’s fair to stop delivering to everyone.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We have temporarily suspended deliveries to a number of addresses in Surrey Road in Blackburn following the most recent in a number of attacks by the same dog.

“We have written to customers to advise of temporary collection arrangements for their mail at Royal Mail’s office on Canterbury Street. Police and the local housing trust have also been notified.

“We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused by the disruption to our service. The safety and welfare of our staff is paramount and we only suspend deliveries if the safety of our postmen and women is at risk and as a last resort.”