A community is backing an “amazing” delivery driver after he had his rounds taken away.

Keith Welsh has been delivering post around Walderslade, Wigmore and Boxley for nearly a decade, but was told on Tuesday he would no longer be covering that area.

Instead, he was offered cover work as and when it comes up.

The 61-year-old, who lives in Leysdown, is a self-employed courier for Evri, which means he can set his own schedule but needs to make sure a certain area is covered.

His wife Sharon, 65, had two strokes in November last year, and has had to attend a number of follow-up appointments at St Thomas' Hospital in London which Keith has taken her to.

But he says after turning up to work on Tuesday, October 1, he was told his rounds were being taken away for him as a result of taking her to an appointment the previous day.

He explained: “I spoke to two big managers three weeks ago and they said it would be alright for me to take it off.

“After my wife had the strokes last year I told them I would need to take time off to take her to appointments which they said would be okay.

“But when I went in the next day they told me they were taking my rounds off me because I had gone to the hospital.”

However, Evri says it has worked with Keith “on multiple occasions” over the last year-and-a-half and it has now made the decision to give his round to a “reliable courier”.

Keith claims he has been given two warnings before by management after taking his wife to the hospital on August 20 and 21 – days off which he says had also been approved.

He explained: “My wife, because she’s had strokes, her brain doesn’t function enough and she doesn’t register everything.

“If I wasn’t with her she wouldn’t make it to the hospital. I’m her carer and she needs someone with her.

“They’ve told me that instead of doing my rounds they’ll offer me cover work when it comes up, but I know they won’t give it to me.

“The manager made me leave the premises straight away and when I asked why she said it was because I wasn’t doing any work that day.

“In my eyes, they have sacked me because they won’t be offering me any work but they didn’t say it in those words to cover their back.”

Since posting about the incident on social media, Keith has had “hundreds” of supportive messages from people across Medway who he’s got to know over the years.

One woman told KentOnline: “This guy deserves a medal for the service he provides. I’m not the only local customer that appreciates Keith.”

Neil Relf, who has had his parcels delivered by Keith for eight years, said: “There’s been a lot of outcry since everyone found out what happened.

“After that long of someone delivering your parcels you get to know them so I was aware that his wife was unwell and that he needed to take her to an appointment.

“I don’t know him on a personal level but he works in all sorts of conditions – in the wind and the rain. He’s part of the community and he’s a brilliant guy.”

Keith, who usually works six days a week, says he hasn’t heard back from Evri since Tuesday.

He added: “I’ve been a courier for nine years, and have been doing this round for eight-and-a-half. I get five stars every day from my customers.

“I have absolutely brilliant customers and I’ve known them for years.”

An Evri spokesperson said: “We are proud of our 99% delivery success rate and committed to these high service levels.

“Our self-employed couriers are at the heart of our business and are responsible for providing cover if they’re unable to deliver, to ensure a quality service to their community.

“We have worked with the courier on multiple occasions over the last 18 months but with no improvement, we have placed a reliable courier on the round and offered the courier cover work.”