RESIDENTS in Dartford have the best postal service in the Greater London area, according to independent research.

Royal Mail had 97 per cent reliability for next-day delivery in the area from July to September.

The figure exceeds the target of 93 per cent set by regulator Postcomm and is nearly four per cent higher than the same time last year.

The reports are compiled from results of tests by independent researchers who post 100,000 letters, packets and parcels each month representative of the typical daily postbag.

The figures also rank Bromley at the top of the league with 95.7 per cent reliability.