MAIL deliveries have been affected due to snow and ice across the Island.
The delayed opening of the airport this morning (Tuesday) meant the aircraft carrying the airmail from the UK was not able to land and was sent back to East Midlands Airport.
By the time the airport was open the aircraft had already been turned back, so the airmail is now expected to arrive later today and it will be delivered tomorrow.
A normal delivery service is being operated today but road conditions are affecting a number of remote rural locations.
These are:
South areas
Corlea Road, Grenaby
Clougher Veg
Ronague, Grenaby Road, Ballagawne Road, top end of Glen Road (Costain Close upwards), Eairy Stain
Top of Ballakillowey down to Ballakilpheric
The Chasms side of Glen Chass, Cregneash
Mill Road, Fleshwick
Central areas
Baldromma, Croit ny Gabbil, Baldrine Hill, end of Clay Head Road
Baroose
Lhoobs Road
Top of Ballafreer Lane, top of Trollaby Lane
East Baldwin
Ballanass, Glen Needles, Doolish Ard, Slieu Whallian Road
Ard Reayrt, Agneash, Ballaragh
Ballamyligyn
Mearry Vooar, Mearry Veg, Ballanahow Farm area, Greenfields, off Oatlands Road, Ballafurt Road, Church Road
Lower Knock Froy, Lower Rheast Road, Ballavale Road, parts of Richmond Hill
End of Clannagh Road, Eary Jora Lane, Willy Collister’s Lane
Ballagawne Road, part of Ballacollister Road, Moaney Woods Farm area
North areas
Kirk Michael - Baltic Road and Shore Road
Barregarrow/Cronk y Voddy - Part of Little London, Ballig, Druidale
Glen Auldyn – Narradale and Tholt y Will
Maughold - School Road
A spokesman said: "A further difficulty we are faced with is the condition of the road surfaces in some side roads and estate areas of Douglas where vehicles are required to deliver items which walking postal staff are unable to deliver.
"Many of our vans delivering parcels are getting stuck and rather than delaying everyone's parcel delivery, we have taken the exceptional step of giving customers the option of collecting their parcels. Customers affected are being contacted directly.
"We are monitoring the situation daily and are working hard to provide a normal service as possible. We will be able to recommence deliveries in all areas as soon as conditions improve."
Despite the road conditions all scheduled collections were made in the Island yesterday. The airmail dispatch last night was delayed by an hour due to problems de-icing the aircraft but the plane landed at East Midlands Airport in time to meet connections to the rest of the UK.
Today is the last recommended day for posting standard mail to the UK in time for Christmas.
