A FIGHT by Stoke-on-Trent's smallest village to win back its postbox has gone all the way to the top.

Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier has agreed to investigate why the box was seized in the dead of night by his employees after serving the 28-household community of Ridgeway for nearly 80 years.

They took the box from its concrete pillar after a hole developed in its metal casing, causing the mail to get wet.

But then villagers were told it may never be returned, because of safety reasons and under-use.

They responded by handing the company a 100-name petition and winning the backing of city North MP Joan Walley who vowed to raise it urgently with Royal Mail.

Now she has received an e-mail from Mr Crozier saying: "Let me ask the team to look into what has happened here and we will get back to you as quickly as we can."