Dundee postcodes have the worst delivery record in mainland Scotland, according to latest Royal Mail figures.
During the last quarter just 87.3% of first class mail in the DD postcode area, which covers Dundee and Angus, was delivered the next day.
Only the Hebrides and Shetland recorded a less impressive result, at 58.5% and 47.3% respectively though they are considered so remote they are not included in national average figures.
The report shows Royal Mail is also delivering a below-average service to customers across the rest of Courier country.
Perthshire (PH) managed a first class delivery rate of 90.3%, and Fife (KY) hit 88.3%, but neither achieved the 91.4% national average.
There was an improvement over the 2010/11 statistics for Dundee and Perthshire, but the proportion of next-day mail delivered in Fife has slipped back from 89.2%
Royal Mail’s regional operations director Paul Kelly said deliveries in Dundee and Fife had been hit weather problems.
“This was due to severe winds which disrupted a number of major arterial routes and involved road and bridge closures, including the Forth Bridge and M9,” he said.
“Disruption to air services caused by ash from an Icelandic volcanic eruption for several days in May had some adverse impact on first class mail, which travels overnight by air.
“In Scotland, this disruption to air services was more severe because of greater reliance on air transport.
“We apologise to any customers for any service which falls below our targets, which are among the highest standards in Europe.”
Customers served by the Dundee East delivery office have reported problems since the introduction of the Way Forward delivery method last winter, when 120,000 letters and parcels piled up at the depot on West Pitkerro Industrial Estate.
Dundee East MSP Stewart Hosie said he is determined to prevent a repeat of last year’s chaos.
“It’s disappointing to see Dundee still at the bottom of the heap in yet another quarterly performance report,” he said.
“I have today written to Iain McKay, director of Scottish affairs at Royal Mail, looking for further information as to why this is the case.
“We know that Dundee East was hammered by the introduction of an untried new system during a prolonged period of particularly bad weather at the beginning of the year but it is frustrating that we are still experiencing poor service now, in the summer…
“Dundee is still bottom of the league, still significantly below other mainland areas. I know that Royal Mail have been working hard to improve in Dundee but this report shows little evidence of it so far, which is extremely disappointing.
“In my letter to Iain McKay today, I have asked him to provide me with details of what contingency plans Royal Mail has in place for any deterioration in weather during the winter months…
“We are still taking up individual complaints on behalf of constituents.
“We have written and held meetings with the Royal Mail on the Way Forward system and its proposed roll-out in Dundee West and indeed its future within the Royal Mail network, but little seems to be happening.”