A couple had their Christmas post suspended by Royal Mail following claims that a postman was bitten by one of their cats.

Alastair and Lucy Humphreys received a letter last Thursday saying that the "exceptional step" was being taken "to safeguard the health and safety" of staff.

Delivery driver Mr Humphreys, 33, at first thought the letter was a joke, but when he checked with the local Royal Mail office he found out it was genuine.

He was told his post would only be delivered again once he fitted a cage or a bag around the inside of his letterbox, or got an exterior box installed, to prevent future attacks.

In the meantime, he was told that he must pick up his post from his local delivery office near his home in Great Cornard, near Sudbury, Suffolk.

The couple own two large Maine Coon cats - three-year-old Peanut and 18-month-old Garfield - but they do not know which one was responsible for the alleged attack.

Mr Humphreys said: "They are a docile breed which are slightly bigger than normal cats with long fluffy hair, and I have never known them to bite or scratch anyone.

"We get plenty of leaflets and all sorts of junk mail coming through, and they sometimes run over to investigate when they hear something being pushed through the letterbox because they are nosy.

"I couldn't believe it when we got this letter out of the blue. I thought it was a wind up at first, so I phoned the number, and I was told it was real.

"I think the whole thing is mad. It seems like a knee-jerk reaction. It is not as if I have got some kind of massive XL Bully dog which could seriously injure someone.

"They said that it was a generic letter which could be sent to any house, regardless of whether it was a dog or cat involved. When I asked for proof of the injury, they could not provide it.

"They just said that I needed to fit a bag or a cage around the letterbox, or have an outside one, so it looks like we might have to get that done.

"I just think that whatever happened was probably very minor and it would have been far better to have sorted out by having a chat with us. But they are making it out to be really serious."

Mr Humphreys said he was unable to get any further details about how the postman was allegedly bitten, but believes it must have happened when post was being pushed through his letterbox because his cats do not go outside unless under supervision.

He added: "I asked the Royal Mail how they were able to deliver the letter, saying my deliveries were stopping, if our address was so dangerous. They said it was done very carefully."

Mr Humphreys said his long working hours in the run up to Christmas meant he would have no time to pick up his post, including Christmas cards, until after the festive break. His wife is unable to pick up letters as she is recovering from an injury.

The letter which was addressed to the occupant of the couple's three-bed terraced house stated that a member of staff had been bitten and injured last Wednesday.

It added: "Due to the seriousness of the incident, I'm sorry to advise that deliveries to your address will be suspended.

"I hope you understand that this exceptional step has been take to safeguard the health and safety of my staff."

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "Deliveries to an address in Maldon Court have been suspended due to the postman being bitten by a cat while delivering to the property.

"The team at Sudbury Delivery Office will work with the customer to try and resolve the issue. Deliveries will not resume until we are sure our colleague will be safe whilst carrying out their work.

"We have offered the customer an alternative arrangement for collection of their post should they be unable to get to the Delivery Office during opening hours."