A long trudge to the post box will become a thing of the past for residents in the Ovaltine development in Kings Langley.

A two-year battle to get a new post box installed in Ovaltine Drive finally ended today thanks to the efforts of local residents and Three Rivers District Council.

Resident Mac Smith said: “The post box will mean that about 500 residents will stop having to walk across busy roads or half a kilometre down the road to post their letters.

“It’s in a convenient place and will be extremely handy for residents.”

The development’s residents' association sought help from Bedmond and Primrose Hill ward Councillor Joy Mann after their request to the Royal Mail for an extra box was unsuccessful.

As a member of the Council's Public Services and Health Committee, Councillor Mann raised the issue at a meeting using the council's new powers known as a 'community call to action'.

Councillor Joy Mann said: "I am delighted that the committee supported this community call for action.

“The residents had been asking for a post box for some time and contacted me.

“The new box is a safe solution for pedestrians and still provides an efficient collection service. The other post boxes involved crossing busy roads or using roads without pavements."

Public Services and Health Committee Chairman Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, said: "The work that Councillor Mann and the residents put into this should be congratulated.

"This shows that with our backing we can make a small but important contribution to the local community. In this case getting a post box where it was needed. Post boxes are also a focal point where people meet and talk."