A post box in Deal has been put out of use after repulsive yobs posted dog faeces.

Royal Mail confirmed that is the reason residents can no longer use the box situated on the junction of Birdwood Avenue and Orchard Avenue.

Ward councillor for Middle Deal Nick Tomaszewski has condemned those responsible.

He said: “I am dismayed. We have a fine community here and such disgusting practice is unacceptable.

“This diminishes our locality and defames the many responsible dog owners who dispose of their pet’s waste products in the correct manner.”

Cllr Tomaszewski was alerted to the issue on Tuesday when he went to post a letter and found the box was blocked with a metal shield and the white notice of collection times missing.

A nearby postman was able to explain the reasons for its closure, saying it was much to the “annoyance and disgust” of postal personnel.

It is believed to be the fourth time in the past 18 months it has happened.

Cllr Tomaszewski said: “I was told that this is not unusual and postal workers run the gauntlet of this - razor blades, needles and spent condoms - in the course of their work collecting our mail.

“If this offensive behaviour continues, the facility will be withdrawn as the post box will be de-commissioned.”

The Deal town councillor has raised his concern for the disabled and elderly who now have to travel to Upper Deal or Middle Deal Road to access an alternative post box.

He said: “That is quite an inconvenience with Christmas almost upon us.”

He thinks a campaign about the impact of unacceptable disposal of dog faeces on environmental health, led by Deal Town Council, might help.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “The postbox in Birdwood Avenue is currently out of service as dog mess has been posted in it on a number of occasions.

“We take such incidents extremely seriously as such actions both damage the mail and create unsafe and unpleasant working conditions for the postmen and women who empty the postbox. We have cleaned the box and plan to reopen it very soon.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and if this incident recurs, we will have no choice but to close the box again and report it to the police so they can investigate.”