Bootle MP, Peter Dowd, was involved in delivering the post when he joined a local postman on his delivery round in Bootle and Seaforth recently.

Peter is one of a number of local MPs being invited to go out with postmen and women across the UK to see the lengths Royal Mail goes to, to deliver the post.

The purpose of the visits is to give MPs a unique insight into the challenges of delivering mail to every house and business in their constituency, six days a week.

Ann Marie Topping, Royal Mail Delivery Manager, who briefed Peter before he set off on his delivery round said: “We’re delighted that Peter is taking the time to experience the every day challenges faced by our delivery postmen and women.

“The visit gave us the opportunity to show Peter how we are continuing to modernise and transform our organisation. We have invested in new sorting and delivery equipment as we respond to the changing nature of the modern postbag. We are delivering more parcels and fewer letters than ever before and the tools for the job need to reflect that.”

Bootle’s Labour MP, Peter Dowd MP, usually delivers campaign and election leaflets when out and about on the streets. But recently he changed tack and accompanied a real professional on a round delivering letters and parcels. Peter said: “I have nothing but praise for postal workers who perform an incredibly important job in our communities, not just delivering letters and parcels but being a vital part of our neighbourhoods which helps bind us together for the common good.”

“I wanted to get a feel for the work that goes into delivering the post on a daily basis. There can be no better way of getting that insight than actually going out alongside a postal worker. So I joined Ian Corrin who has been delivering post to customers in all weathers in Bootle and Seaforth for many years. Luckily for me it was a lovely morning to get out and about!”

Royal Mail is continuing to modernise its operation, which means every part of the process from collecting, transporting, sorting and delivering the mail is being improved to further increase efficiency.