New late-night entry arrangements at the main Hamilton Post Office have triggered gripes from disgruntled night owls.

Officials at the General Post Office (GPO) tightened security after a survey of more than 1,000 box holders revealed concerns about homeless people sleeping and going to the toilet in the building after hours.

In a bid to combat the problem, it was confirmed that from the start of this month swipe cards would be needed to gain entry between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Users were told that any swipe card with a magnetic strip could be used ? including work passes and bank cards.

But some box holders have claimed that they have been locked out, despite repeated attempts to use their cards to get inside the Church Street site.

One told : "The first thing I noticed was that after February 1 the doors were not locked at night. I don't know how long that went on, but obviously the deadline was missed."

She added: "On February 8 I tried a selection of my swipe cards at the main door after 9 p.m. None would work.

"A man behind me said he'd try with his bunch of cards and none of the six he used would work either. He then went to the wheelchair-accessible door nearest the Bermuda Cathedral, and was totally unsuccessful there too."

She said she saw quite a few people go up the steps to the GPO, try their swipe cards before leaving in "disgust".

"Obviously, a lot of people were inconvenienced," she stated.

She said on February 14 she went with her husband to the GPO, and again tried a selection of swipe cards at the "main door" but not one worked.

The next day, however, she spotted a sign on this door, which she said was the most popular entrance particularly for motorists, stating it was for Government workers only. This meant the public had to use the door nearest the Cathedral.

And she branded this situation "stupid".

"I'm sure it's fair to say Government employees don't work in the building after 9 p.m. and before 6 a.m., so why are they getting what seems to be preferential treatment, while the public must go to the furthest door and walk the length of the inner area to post a letter?

"Surely the Post Office has it backwards? Why can't both doors be available to the public?"

The customer suggested the sign was the result of complaints, and said there had been no official announcement about who could use which door.

Repeated attempts to contact Postmaster General George Outerbridge about the complaints were unsuccessful.

Confirming the new security system, Finance Minister Paula Cox said in January that the move was prompted after an incident last summer. Then, a team of cleaners arrived at work and found a mound of faeces in the lobby where post boxes and telephones were located.

"Government wants to encourage the proper use of the facility by everyone and to ensure that the health and safety of our workforce is not negatively affected," said Ms Cox, who confirmed that the swipe system would operate in tandem with a security camera and extra Police patrols.

"The use of this public facility for non-business purposes will not be tolerated. We have also instituted these changes to protect the safety of all persons who use the GPO to conduct their legitimate affairs."

Mr. Outerbridge said in January: "We are trying to have restricted access but in a way that is not inconvenient for customers."