A backlog of more than 1,000 parcels and packages has built up in a Royal Mail sorting office.

One postal worker told a customer that there were items stacked “up to the ceiling” in the building in North Road, Brighton.

It is believed that residents across the city and as far away as Mid Sussex have been experiencing long waits for their deliveries.

Now extra staff are working tomorrow to try to tackle the problem.

A 59-year-old man, from Brighton, said he had been waiting for deliveries for three weeks.

He said: “My postman told me about it.

“I went into the sorting office and asked them about the ‘packages up to the ceiling’ and I was told that it was ‘confidential information’.

“When I asked for them to go and look for my package they said, ‘You won’t get me going back there to look for your package’. There were three other people in the sorting office also asking after parcels which had not been delivered. I am never going to use Royal Mail again after this.” The areas which have been affected include the BN1 and BN2 postcodes, which cover Withdean, Patcham, Falmer, Rottingdean and Ovingdean.

The other areas affected are the BN45 postcodes, which cover Poynings, Pyecombe, Saddlescombe and Mid Sussex, and BN88, which covers businesses including American Express.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said extra deliveries would take place tomorrow. She said: “Royal Mail would like to apologise to some customers in the Brighton area for any delay in the delivery of some parcels and packets.

“Due to some of our vehicles being off the road, and not being able to get suitable temporary replacements, we have been unable to deliver all items as we would have wished.

“We are making every effort, including working this Sunday, to complete these deliveries as soon as possible.”

Have you been affected by the back-log? Tell us by calling the newsdesk on 01273 544519 or emailing news@theargus.co.uk.