mail from the United Kingdom.

The Island has not seen any parcel post from the UK for ten days and the Bermuda Post Office is currently waiting to hear from Britain's Royal Mail to establish the whereabouts of the missing items.

According to Postmaster General Clevelyn Crichlow, normal letter mail has not been affected by the mystery stoppage, although for a time express post was not arriving.

"Parcel mail last came ten days ago,'' he said. "As far as I know there hasn't been a problem with letter mail. But we haven't been receiving parcels.

"We have faxed the Royal Mail to find out what is going on, but we haven't had a reply yet.'' UK mail is usually flown in via British Airways on their four-times-a-week service, and occasionally via the US.

A BA spokesman said: "As far as we are aware everything is running normally.

Mail is given top priority.'' The Royal Mail in the UK had not responded to Royal Gazette calls last night.

BA has helped the US carriers in the past when mail has been disrupted, and US airlines have returned the favour.

Mail was last disrupted around Christmas time, when US to Bermuda post was delayed for several days.

The problem occurred when the airlines downsized their aircraft for the winter period, leaving less space for mail.

BA stepped in to help, flying mail from the US to Britain and back to Bermuda.

In addition, some post was sent to the Island via sea freight.