STUNNED shops and small businesses in Crewe are being asked to pay thousands of pounds to ensure they get their post in the morning.

Owners are furious at the chaos caused by a new once-a-day delivery policy which sees post arriving haphazardly in the day.

Traditionally a First Class stamp has ensured speedy delivery, with an afternoon post helping to shift items from the Royal Mail sorting office in Weston Road.

But to cut costs Royal Mail has merged deliveries into one and is expecting people to pay £2,661 a year for the privilege of getting their post in the morning.

Businesses say there is no way they can afford it.

Sandy Cowen, chairman of the Federation of Small Business (FSB) branch in Crewe, said: 'Particularly hard hit are the small traders. To guarantee an early morning delivery they have to pay the full annual amount or £222 a month.

'Many are making just enough to make ends meet let alone pay for a service that has already been covered by the price of a stamp. Taking on board this cost will be like paying a further tax.'

Nantwich Road solicitors, travel agents and estate agents, which depend on correspondence in the post, are badly hit. GPs have been affected, as worried patients wait for results such as smear tests.

Star Travel owner Jane Davies said: 'Even in this day of computer technology businesses need the post. We get sent air tickets, cheques by customers and holiday confirmation documents. Post arriving at lunchtime is a massive inconvenience and to say we can collect it ourselves is a real cheek.'

The FSB has taken up the matter with Royal Mail. Cheshire County Council is protesting while giving thought to operating a post bus to speed up deliveries to rural areas.

Royal Mail spokeswoman Wendy Gess said: 'Crewe changed to a single daily delivery on July 19. It's a change to the way we work and there are some teething problems.

'It makes sense to merge first and second deliveries because, although just 4% of the daily postbag arrives on the second delivery, it accounts for 20% of our costs.

'We are trying to ensure that most firms still receive their mail early in the day, while residential addresses have all their mail delivered between 9am and lunchtime.

'If any customer would prefer to have mail earlier, they can collect it themselves from the delivery office from 8.30am for free or can request a timed delivery from 6am.

'This is only available to customers within a 10-mile radius of the delivery office and costs £222 a month, or £2,661 a year.'