TODAY you can fly to Australia in less than 24 hours so it's hardly surprising that Burnley mother Julie Latham is upset that her birthday present took three weeks to arrive by post.

It appears the package wasn't held up at an airport, railway station or on the road but at Burnley sorting office where backlogs have built up since the second post was scrapped just before Easter.

She appears to be one of many people who have suffered because of a situation described by Burnley Council leader Stuart Caddy as "shambolic".

Coun Caddy is a postman and local rep for the Communication Workers Union which is not happy at the scrapping of the second postal delivery, although it is unclear why general changes in arrangements appear to have had more effect in Burnley than elsewhere.

Although our postal services have suffered conflicts between management and unions in recent years, their services compare favourably with those in many overseas countries including Australia.

But the hard facts are that in these days of emails and faxes as well as large and small private courier operations, the Royal Mail faces strong competition as post office closures mount

Management and unions have to work together to ensure the service competes on every level, or loss of public support will escalate and efficiency will deteriorate.