A Petts Wood community has set up a petition to keep their postman.

Danny Boyle, 44, of Sidcup Road in Mottingham, has been delivering post to Petts Wood for around 20 years.

Upon discovering their beloved postie was set to walk a different beat, the community has rallied around him.

An online petition is looking for 500 signatures to try and save him, and the Petts Wood and District Residents Association has also got behind the campaign.

Crest View Drive resident Sophia McEwen, 43, who set up the petition, said: "He's the nicest person you'll ever meet. It’s a crying shame he's leaving.

"We’re genuinely upset, the whole community, he knows everybody.”

The mum of one added: "No question he's a throwback to older times where you knew local people, their names and faces.

“We can trust him; in this day and age it's rare. We will lose our sense of community if we lost him.”

Mr Boyle, who lives with wife Trudi and daughters Eden, seven, and Niamh, 11, said: "I don't really want to leave, I'm so grateful for the effort everyone has put in. I regard everyone as friends not customers.

"I'll miss seeing everyone every day; I'll miss the people the most.

"It's a real community; people have given me the keys to their house when they've gone on holiday, I get prescriptions for medicine for elderly people, I check up on them."

Also the News Shopper's postman, his last round will be on January 17 before leaving for Green St Green.

He added: "It does choke you up, I'm sure it will be emotional on my last day. Its touching people have taken time out of their busy lives. It's such a lovely gesture, it's something special."

He added without a doubt he would be back to visit.

Richard Kirby, 39, a member of the Petts Wood Business Association said: "He's a cheery helpful chap and it would be a shame for someone who knows the area to be moved on.

"I've spoken to a few other shop owners and it's a common consensus."

A Petts Wood resident, he also runs Smarty Pants Dry Cleaners & Alterations along Queensway, and added: "He's definitely part of the community. We would like him to stay, we're supporting him."

Resident and president of the Petts Wood and District Residents' Association, John Powell, 56, said: "Danny has made a very positive impact. He's served the community for so long.

"It's a great pity someone the community has taken on board is being moved, we don't know why."

Mr Boyle added he would miss the lack of gates in Petts Wood which 'you wouldn't understand unless you're a postie'.

Royal Mail spokesperson Sally Hopkins said: “We are pleased that our customers in Orpington have had such excellent service from one of our postmen. It is always gratifying when our customers recognise the hard work of their postman or woman.

“We need to continually review our operation in the light of falling mail volumes and a change in what we deliver – fewer letters and more parcels. 

"This may mean that some customers in Orpington may notice that a different postman or woman will be delivering their mail. "

To sign the petition visit www.thepetitionsite.com/326/399/780/lets-not-lose-our-postie/

What are your memories of Danny? Leave your comments below