to overseas mail delivery, the Postmaster General has claimed.

Clevelyn Crichlow said his department had again ordered shipment of US airmail to the UK and then to Bermuda, as it had done late in the season last year.

The policy started last year to avoid delays at airports in the US, caused by unavailability of space on flights to Bermuda which are packed with people and cargo.

"I had been advised that because of problems with US mail,'' he explained, "I should transfer US mail to the UK. And there have been no delays so far.'' Service has been "flowing steadily'' this season, he added, saying the Post Office had been successful in minimising problems and wanted to meet public demand.