POSTMEN are boycotting a Bexley street after one of them was bitten on the backside by a renegade Rottweiler.

The Royal Mail has suspended deliveries to a number of homes in Upton Road South after postie Peter Shram, 51, was attacked by the dog.

And while the boycott lasts, residents are being forced to go to the sorting office in Bexley Village to pick up their mail.

The dog is also said to be responsible for chasing a terrified window cleaner down the road.

Mr Shram, a postman for three years, has been doing the Upton Road South round since April and has suffered a number of problems with dogs owned by one family in the street.

In recent months he has been leaving the family's post in the car in their driveway rather than walk to the front door.

But three weeks ago the snarling Rottweiler ran at him before sinking its teeth into his rear.

He said: "It was the last straw. It was only a nip and it didn't break the skin, but it is about what the dog may do the next time. What happens if it is a child who gets attacked?

"I couldn't live with myself if that happened and I hadn't reported its attack on me."

Residents admit it is not the first time the dog has turned nasty. One woman told the paper: "The dog does get out. It is a pest. It chased the window cleaner down the road."

But she was angry that Royal Mail had not told residents their post was being stopped.

She added: "I only found out because a postman in a van knocked with a registered letter and told me I was very lucky to be receiving it."

A spokesman for Royal Mail says it has a duty to protect its employees and asks customers to help by keeping their pets under control.

A spokesman said "We only suspend deliveries in extreme cases. In these circumstances, it can be difficult to inform our customers of the arrangements for their post as we do not have telephone numbers for them. Of course, we do explain the situation when people call into the delivery office."

Mr Shram, who compiles crosswords in his spare time and is working on a crossword book where some of the clues will be illustrated by cartoonist Bill Tidy, says he feels bad that people are not getting their post.

But he says he understands the family which owns the dog is moving house very shortly and if it happens, deliveries will be back to normal.

In the meantime, it will be left to the police whether or not to take action against the Rottweiler's owner.