Royal Mail is stopping posties from walking on snow-covered pavements which have not been gritted, in case they slip over.

Postmen are instead being put to work in depots processing letters and parcels.

Some Kingston residents have not received mail since Saturday, despite the gradual thawing of main roads and side streets in the past few days.

A Surbiton Hill Park resident, who declined to give his name for fear of recriminations, said: “We have had no post for four days now. Do they give us a refund on our postage?

"I am waiting for cheques and important things to do with work. I live on a bus route and it is a clear road."

Royal Mail is concerned that postal workers who sometimes carry as much as 11 to 16 kilo bags will slip over and injure themselves.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said in a statement: "The vast majority of deliveries are being made.

"We have been doing everything possible to keep the mail moving during the bad weather.

"Where delivery has not been possible previously, our people have been processing the mail to help us ensure we deliver it as quickly as possible."

One postman on his rounds in Sutton said he and his colleagues had been told to us their discretion where their rounds included icy pavements.

One Surbiton Hill Road resident, who asked not to be named, went to the Villiers Road to speak to the manager.

He said: "It is not good enough. I have been going to work every day.

"A six foot bruiser of a manager came out. He said 'I'm not sending them out in this'.

"He said 'do you want to argue with this'.

"I said I'm just wanting a discussion."

He claimed he was then thrown out of the office for complaining.

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