MORE than 80 postmen in the PE postcode area were attacked by dogs in the last year, according to the Royal Mail.

Although nine per cent down on the previous year, the figure showed 81 postmen were attacked in the postal area which covers Huntingdonshire, South Holland, Rutland, and West Norfolk – including the Queen’s estate at Sandringham.

The Royal Mail has appealed to dog owners to keep their animals under control over the summer months and other school holidays, when postmen are at most risk of being bitten..

The company has spent �100,000 on awareness campaigns and issued 90,000 ‘posting pegs’ to postmen to allow them to put letters through the letterboxes without risking their fingers being snapped at.

Michael Shakeshaft, director of safety for Royal Mail in the East, said: “Clearly most dogs are not inherently dangerous, however, even the most placid animal can be prone to attack if it feels its territory is being threatened.”