Furious pensioners are demanding an end to a staffing crisis at Norbury post office which they say is making their lives a misery.

The London Road post office reopened on Monday after a week out of action because of staffing shortages. But disgruntled pensioners who rely on the services say ongoing problems at the post office have meant elderly customers having to traipse as far afield as Streatham or Thornton Heath.

Pensioner David Branton told the Guardian he and many others - not just pensioners but single mothers and businesses - had had enough of being messed around.

"Everybody I meet in Norbury is complaining about it but it is not the first time they have had a problem. Some weeks ago it was shut for a few days and more recently it was shut for a day because of staff shortages.

"Now this - it's just not good enough. There are a lot of old people in Norbury and this has had a huge impact on the community. We are told to bear with them but that isn't going to get the baby bathed is it?''

A spokesman for Post Office Counters told the Guardian the problems were now behind them and that staffing difficulties had now been resolved once and for all: "We apologise to all our customers for the recent closure of Norbury Post Office. There has been a number of unfortunate circumstances that have occurred that were beyond our control.

"However we have and will continue to make every effort to ensure the Post Office provides a high level of service."

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