A TINY village has won its fight to replace an 80-year-old postbx seized by Royal Mail under the cover of darkness.

The 28 households of Ridgeway, in Stoke-on-Trent, took their campaign right to the top of the publicly-owned company – and forced chief executive Adam Crozier to step in.

Now villagers have been told a new mailbox will be delivered shortly – just a week since they handed in a 100-name petition.

Campaign leader Helen Bradshaw was told a new model would be installed at a safer spot across the road from the concrete post which had held the old one.

The occupational therapist, aged 44, said: "To be honest, I thought the decision had already been made and I was wasting everyone's time trying to get our postbox back.

"But this must be one of the best days in Ridgeway's history and we will show Royal Mail how much it is used.

"It shows that no matter how small you are, if you voice you views properly, you will be listened to."

The original postbox in the peaceful hamlet between Norton and Bemersley was seized without notice by Royal Mail after developing a hole in its metal casing.

Residents feared its fate was sealed when postal bosses said it was under-used and in an unsafe position on a main road.

Residents faced a mile-long trip to the next nearest postbox in Norton, which was often so full it was hard to squeeze letters in.

Mr Crozier agreed to look into the case following a plea from City North MP Joan Walley.

The original box had been at the junction of Bemersley Road and Tongue Lane, but its replacement will be set back from the main road near the telephone box.

Now Mrs Bradshaw is to ask all householders for permission to act on their behalf in final negotiations with Royal Mail.

She said: "I have to do this because the land where it will go is owned by the whole village. I have seen in auctions that vintage postboxes only cost around £700, so I will ask the company if we can have one of those to keep the tradition of the old box alive."

A letter from Mark Griffiths, Royal Mail's regional networks support manager, said: "I have assessed the area and identified two locations near the telephone box on the other side of the road. I believe this will provide an area for our vehicles to stop and collect from the box safely. I have been advised that the land is owned by the village so I will require permission from an appointed person to install the box."

Carol Jones, aged 49, who lives yards from the box, said: "I never thought we would get our box back, because other villages have lost theirs.

"It's always worth shouting up for your rights and I hope our victory will encourage other rural areas to do the same if their services are under threat. I use the box all the time as I don't drive and since it has gone I've had to rely on lifts to post letters."

Fellow villager Dawn Clewes said: "We are all ecstatic about this victory – it's like David beating Goliath. I think we have got the box back so quickly because they realised they had made a mistake by not holding a consultation."