Billy Elliott, from Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service, said he had been called to Brooklands Lake, in East Worthing, six times this year to deal with ducks and birds caught up in elastic bands.

He said the bands were all of the distinctive red variety used by Royal Mail to tie bundles of post together.

Dropped

"One third of rainwater that rains on this area runs off into Brooklands and out to the sea," said Mr Elliott.

"The postmen have these little red bands wrapped around bundles of post.

"When they take them off, they drop them on the pavement and they get washed down the drain, into Brooklands, and ducks get them wrapped around their beaks and heads."

Royal Mail spokesman James Taylor apologised for the problems and said local managers would contact Mr Elliott to discuss solutions.

Apology

He said: "The vast majority of elastic bands are successfully recycled but, unfortunately, elastic bands can have a habit of flying off at times and it is not always obvious where they have landed, which is why our customers find them.

"We would like to apologise to any customers affected and re-assure them that we will remind our staff to take extra care to avoid dropping bands."

What do you think?

How frequently do you see Royal Mail elastic bands in the street?

How concerned are you about the damage caused by elastic bands?

Share your views, comment below, email the Herald or write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald series, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.


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