ANGRY residents say they are sick of their letters being lost by the post service and they want something done about it.

People in Dorchester, Charminster, Frampton, Sydling St Nicholas and parts of Weymouth have joined together to take on Royal Mail over important pieces of mail going missing.

Carer Carole Potter, 45, from Batcombe, near Dorchester, sent a letter to the Dorset Echo about mail containing money that wasn't arriving at its destination.

Since the letter was published she has been contacted by people who said they had also had problems with lost mail.

Mrs Potter said: "It started off with a card and some money that my mother sent to us. She asked after it and I told her that we never received anything.

"I thought it might have been a bit of bad luck but then I bumped into a friend whose son is my godson. I had sent them a card and some money and again, it hadn't arrived.

"I have a disabled son and I send out a lot of correspondence relating to his care. I need to know that it's being delivered."

Hospital worker Sylvia Mould from Broadwey said she has made a catalogue of the post she hadn't received.

It includes pathology results and a subsequent operation cancellation. She also said that there had been three birthday cards in August 2005 that never arrived.

Mrs Mould added: "This is just not good enough. I have complained to them on several occasions.

"On one occasion I was sent a book of first class stamps as compensation. Big deal.

"After my birthday cards went missing I rang them and was told it was an isolated incident."

Dinner lady Fay Dale, 42, from Sherborne said: "Royal Mail lost a standing order form which I sent to the AA.

"Because of this the AA have contacted their solicitors about getting the payment off me. I will pay, but first I want confirmation the order has definitely been lost and that I won't have to pay twice."

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall said: "We are concerned to hear from any customer who has experienced difficulties with their mail.

"We take any failure in our service extremely seriously and would encourage people to contact our customer services department.

"We will investigate problems where they are identified and we rely on customers to let us know of any problems they have with their post."

Customer services can be contacted on 08457 740740.