VILLAGERS in Exminster were surprised to find the post box appeared to have been covered in black plastic.

The village post office was unaware of what seemed to be an ‘upgrade’ after the post box was put out of action.

A spokesman for Exminster Post Office said: ‘This was done with no warning or consultation and with no info on when it will be back in action.

‘To save you waiting, if you just need to drop off pre-stamped letters, please put them through the spare counter and we will bag them.’

The Royal Mail said should be a sign on each post box which is being upgraded to explain what is happening and where customers can find the nearest postbox in service.

It is part of a nationwide roll-put of 3,500 solar powered ‘post boxes of the future’.

The new design allows customers to send and return labelled parcels - up to the size of a shoebox - through a postbox for the first time.

Customers can also request proof of posting, and track their parcel, using the Royal Mail app.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: ‘Our new postboxes of the future will offer another convenient way for customers in Exminster and elsewhere to access Royal Mail's services, alongside home delivery and collection, our Customer Service Points, Post Office branches, lockers and Royal Mail Shop outlets.’

Signage which should have been placed on the Exminster post box explaining the situation was due to have been attached by a member of Royal Mail staff.

Installation of the new boxes takes several weeks, as they are measured and retrofitted individually.

The roll-put is the biggest redesign of the post box in its 175-year history.

The modern makeover will include a barcode scanner which opens a drop-down drawer to place parcels that are larger than those that fit through the traditional postbox slot; a solar panel, positioned due south for optimal sunlight, to power the scanner and drawer and a separate slot for letters.