ROYAL Mail has been accused of waging a reign of terror at a Merseyside sorting office – forcing out nearly 50 post workers to cut costs.

Southport MP John Pugh demanded an investigation into the behaviour of managers in the town, telling ministers: “Loyal staff get dismissed and good postmen fear for their jobs."

Leading a Commons debate, the Liberal Democrat MP said 46 post workers had either been sacked, suspended, or were off work because of stress.

And he suggested experienced staff were being deliberately forced out, to cut costs and Royal Mail's crippling pension liabilities – with ruthless managers handed awards.

Mr Pugh had received a flood of letters, protesting that staff had been dismissed, or suspended, for:

Cycling without helmets;

Leaving letters in post boxes, instead of collecting them – even if it was for the first time;

Signing a letter for an old lady in her absence, to prevent her having to make a long journey to the sorting office;

Leaving their vans unlocked for a few moments, watched by managers;

Leaving post unattended for a short period, while answering a customer's query inside a shop.