POLICE are investigating the thefts of hundreds of letters from postmen on their rounds in three Wiltshire towns.

Officers believe the theft of postbags from Royal Mail postal workers in Melksham, Calne and Trowbridge could be linked

The thefts come at a time when the Royal Mail is under fire for closing sub post offices and putting extra strain on remaining branches. A black car was seen at the scene of the first theft in Frome Road, Trowbridge, at 9.15am on Friday.

The postman left his bike at the end of a path while delivering letters, but was told by a passer-by it had been stolen. A black car was seen turning into Clarendon School before speeding off towards Southwick.

At 8am on Saturday a postal worker was on her rounds in Chapel Close, Melksham, when thieves stole her mailbag as she posted letters.

An hour later a third postal worker was targeted in Lansdowne Close, Calne, the thief again stealing a mailbag full of letters.

Sergeant Martin Schorah, of Trowbridge police, said house-to-house inquiries had not turned up any leads.

Royal Mail said it was impossible to estimate how many letters were stolen but urged anyone with information to help police.

Spokesman Dan Panes said only the criminals could be held to blame.

"It is impossible to say how much mail was stolen. They were halfway through their rounds so it wasn't as bad as it could have been," he said.

"We are confident that in these incidents the people to blame are very firmly the criminals not the postmen.

"This type of crime is very, very rare. We can't legislate what lengths the criminals will go too."

The thefts have only heightened concerns about the state of Royal Mail in Melksham.

Town councillors are demanding a meeting with officials to raise concerns over lengthy queues at the town's Church Street branch, heightened after the closure of two sub post offices.

On Monday councillors said the staff were stretched to the limit with problems occurring 'every hour of every day'. Former mayor Terri Welch said: "I have asked the counter staff myself and they are very stretched."

Cllr Joan Kinder said one solution of borrowing staff from other branches was unacceptable. "The extra staff should have been put in place before the other post offices closed. We have post going missing, post stolen, all sorts. The post office has got a lot to answer for."

Royal Mail spokesman Mr Panes said it was a paradox that councils were complaining about the closure of sub post offices, when some authority's websites advised people to make council tax payments by direct debit, taking away vital custom from struggling branches.

He said: "It is an increase in custom. The whole point of closing the two sub branches was to create the custom.

"The problem the post office has got is that it is losing money hand over fist. Crown branches (including Melksham) lost £70m last year and there is only 550 of them."

l People worried about missing mail can contact Royal Mail on 08457 740740.