Angry Burgess Hill residents have won a victory in their fight against poor postal deliveries.

The Royal Mail pledged at a public meeting last night to increase staff in the town by 10 per cent to 55 and admitted the service had fallen below standard.

More students will be recruited for holiday periods.

Mail chiefs were so alarmed at publicity over complaints to the town council they brought in a senior manager for the showdown.

Local unit manager Nigel Roberts listened as sector operations manager Martin Johnson admitted faults.

The planned 45-minute meeting lasted just under one and a half hours.

Mr Johnson said of the improve-ments: "I will be looking for the improved service to be in place by the end of August.

"If I can get it earlier I will do everything in my power to do that."

Complaints involved bad organisation and staff planning rather than the postmen and postwomen.

One resident, businessman-Edward Handley, of Copper Close, said after the meeting: "If Post box shake-up I didn't use electronic mail I'd be in the soup."

Moans included late deliveries, missed deliveries, opened mail, and collection boxes being opened too early or even up to 90 minutes late.

Mr Johnson said letters should all be delivered between 7 am at the earliest and 9.30 at the latest for the main delivery.

One improvement will be more staff sorting so others get out of the centre on the Victoria Industrial Estate on time to start rounds.

A late collection box at the Tesco store in Jane Murray Way is being considered, and also points where delivery staff can pick up more post instead of having to return to the depot.