Royal Mail investigates after about 400 letters found near Londonderry

Royal Mail has launched an investigation after an estimated 400 unopened letters were found in a bag on Mobuoy Road, several miles outside Londonderry, prompting police enquiries and concern that residents may have missed important post.

A member of the public found the bag on Wednesday and contacted Northern Ireland Assembly member Mark H Durkan, who passed the letters to police. Durkan said many appeared to be from health trusts, government departments and banks, and could contain sensitive personal information.

Police said follow-up enquiries led to the discovery and seizure of more mail. Officers are continuing their enquiries and liaising with Royal Mail.

Royal Mail said its teams would recover and process the items so they could be returned to the postal network for delivery. Durkan said he understood there were other similar bags in the area and called for a full investigation and accountability.

He said some people might have missed important correspondence, potentially affecting access to essential services. Police have not stated how many people or addresses were affected, or how the letters came to be on the roadside.