Pensioner told by postmen to cut 'aggressive' bush
British postmen have threatened to stop delivering letters to a pensioner because of his "aggressive" raspberry bush.
Mike Stevens, 67, was left stunned when Royal Mail bosses refused to deliver his post to his home unless he cut back his 7ft tall bush, as they believed it was posing a health hazard to staff.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Mike said: "What is the world coming to?
"It is the postal service making the problem, not my raspberries. They are not malicious."
The former teacher and father-of-two - who started growing the raspberries five years ago - has lived in the house in Market Drayton, Shropshire, for 15 years and was even keen for the posties to take some of the delicious fruit from his tree.
Val Bodden, who works for the Royal Mail, said: "Following concerns expressed by a postwoman regarding access problems, a Royal Mail manager, and a CWU union safety officer, visited the ¬premises.
"The owner agreed to tie back the bushes blocking the path to his letter box.
"We will not compromise on the health and safety of our postmen and women."
