Sharon Blundell, right, with campaigned for the post box at Queen's Hills.

The Royal Mail has been forced into a U-turn over its decision to not provide a post box for hundreds of families.

As reported in the Evening News on Thursday February 21, the service said it would not build a post box at Queen’s Hills housing estate in Costessey, despite earlier promises to install one.

The estate is expected to grow from its current 1,500 homes to 2,250 homes, but the Royal Mail said a post box was not needed as there was one two miles away at Sainsbury’s Longwater.

But on Monday the Royal Mail contacted mother Sharon Blundell, who first wrote to the Royal Mail in August asking for a post box, and they said they had changed their minds.

She thanked the Evening News for adding to the pressure on the Royal Mail and helping the community score a victory.

“It is great that we have actually won something for Queen’s Hills,” she said. “I wanted to thank the Evening News for getting the story around.

“I’m jumping up and down.”

Ofcom, which regulate the postal service, also got involved and asked for an explanation from Royal Mail as to why they thought a post box was not needed by the hundreds of families on the estate.

A location for the box is now being looked at with Kestral Avenue, Sir Alfred Munnings Road and Poethlyn Drive all potential sites.

Royal Mail spokesperson Valerie Antoine said: “Royal Mail has listened to the local community and we are still talking to the council about a possible location for this postbox. Once this is confirmed we intend to install the box as soon as we can.”

•Do you have a story about Costessey for the Evening News? Contact reporter Tom Bristow on 01603772313 or email tom.bristow@archant.co.uk.