VOTE: Town’s posties to be trained in ‘dog awareness’

But all that is set to change for the humble postie.

Bolton’s mail men and women are among the first in the country to be trained on how to deal with their canine adversaries.

The threat of being bitten is now so urgent that the Royal Mail has decided to take action to reduce the number of injuries.

“Dog awareness days” are to be held, telling staff the dos and don’ts of dog encounters.

The classes, which will take place in the workplace, will pass on tips such as how not to approach dogs aggressively.

Eight postmen in Bolton have been attacked by dogs in the last three months, and now residents who fail to keep their dogs under control will receive a warning letter and risk losing their deliveries.

The police and dog warden may also be contacted in the most serious cases.

Mick Hargreaves, Communication Workers Union Bolton branch secretary, said dog attacks were becoming a serious problem for postmen.

He said: “We constantly have problems with dogs, and I’m aware of three attacks in Bolton in the last couple of weeks.

“We’ve seen some nasty bites. One man was bitten on the hand, and he couldn’t drive for a week.

“A lot have to go to hospital and be stitched up. They have to have tetanus jabs, and then have to continue delivering to these people.

“Some of the dogs are very large and it can be quite traumatic.”

Royal Mail said the problem increases during the summer when parents and children are at home and dogs are allowed to roam in the garden and streets.

Bolton’s delivery manager Ian Lumley said: “Not all dogs are dangerous, but even the most placid animal can attack if it feels its territory is being threatened.

“Our first priority is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people, and increasingly we have to suspend deliveries because dogs are on the loose and it is not safe.”

Royal Mail also recommends installing a letter cage inside the front door or a secure mailbox at the front of the property.

julian.thorpe@ theboltonnews.co.uk