Royal Mail disruption is persisting in the Watford area amid claims that Amazon parcels are being prioritised over letters.

Residents have continued to report post not being received on time and then getting large chunks of letters at once.

Royal Mail previously responded to claims of "chaos" at the town's sorting office by conceding disruption caused by sickness and staff shortages could last months.

However, the latest service update on its website states "deliveries are operating as normal across the UK today", and does not include Watford in its list of struggling areas.

One resident told the Watford Observer she recently received letters from August, despite seeing her postman delivering parcels - mainly from Amazon. 

“It’s ridiculous, especially when a Royal Mail van pulls up outside mine at least three or four times a day delivering parcels.”

Karen Golanski, who lives near South Oxhey, added: “At most we are getting post two times a week but it is mainly once a week. Despite buying first class stamps it has taken seven days to get here.

“It isn’t a first class service at all.”

Someone else wrote on social media: “I spoke to a postman this morning, there is a shortage of posties and Royal Mail are prioritising Amazon due to the contract. There are huge backlogs going back a good few weeks.”

However, a Royal Mail spokesperson denied claims that Amazon parcels are being prioritised, adding: "All items of mail are treated with equal importance and every effort is made to ensure deliveries are made on time."

They also said the service update page, which does not name Watford, is reserved for areas that are experiencing delays that are "expected to have an ongoing impact".

It previously apologised to residents and said it was “committed to restoring service levels to where our customers expect them to be”.

“The local service has recently been impacted by staff shortages and sick absences,” a spokesperson added late last month.

“Across our business we have plans in place to drive service levels. We hope and expect to see further progress in the coming months."