CONCERNS have been raised about postal workers leaving mail trolleys locked to lampposts in Redbridge after one was destroyed by arsonists.

Worried resident Ray Weekes, who snapped this photo (right) of the aftermath of an attack at the corner of Hermon Hill and Wellesley Road in Wanstead, described the unguarded trolleys as “an open invitation to vandalism.”

He added: “I would presume there were no letters in there but who knows.

“The trolley had been left there every night for the past few weeks until this happened. I don’t know why someone would want to do this but perhaps if the postmen put them in more discrete locations things like this would not happen.”

It is believed the trolley was attacked last Friday night (April 3) although the police said the Royal Mail had not reported the incident to them.

Postal trolleys were first introduced on a mass-scale in Britain last year to help relieve struggling posties from heavy bags, while also allowing them to carry more letters.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail said: "No mail is ever left in trolleys overnight.

"This trolley would have been left secured for use the following day."