SIR – If the aim of the increase in postal rates is to save the jobs of our posties, then I, for one, am all for it, but not if it is to make Royal Mail more lucrative for foreign competitors to get their hands on.

Since its inception in the early 19th century our posties have plodded through rain and shine to make what is now considered one of the best services in the world.

But how many people realise the dangers our posties have to face on their daily rounds? Only this week a postman had a six-hour operation after suffering horrific injuries when he was attacked by two Rottweiler dogs while delivering Christmas mail (T&A, December 24).

Royal Mail bosses and the Government need to sort out systemic problems PDQ, or else something we’ve always taken for granted will no longer be ours.

D Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford