Thousands of letters were delivered to Crystal Palace homes 16 years late after they were hoarded by a former postman.

The letters from 1994 landed on baffled residents' doormats last month sparking rumours a vindictive postman may have held it back from particular households.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said it had been handed some 2,000 letters relating to many households in the Crystal Palace area as a part of a police investigation, believed to be linked to a former Royal Mail employee.

It is understood the letters were discovered at a former postman's address in Dulwich as part of a police investigation unconnected to the Royal Mail.

Because of the number of addresses involved, it is understood no households were specifically targeted.

The spokeswoman said the letters had been delivered along with a letter apologising for the delay.

She added: “We constantly review our operation to ensure it is as robust as possible and that customers' mail is secure.

“Royal Mail has a zero tolerance approach to any dishonesty and that stance is shared by the overwhelming majority of postmen and women who are honest and trustworthy and do all they can to protect the mail and deliver it safely. We will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust.”

The late deliveries inspired some residents, who did not live at the addresses 16 years ago, to try and reunite the mail with its intended recipients.