A POSTMAN has won damages after a judge ruled that the mail bag he carried on his round was too heavy.

The case could have massive implications for postal workers after it was revealed that one in three accidents by Royal Mail staff was caused by lifting heavy goods.

Thomas Melvin, 48, has been a postie in Sunderland for almost ten years. He injured his shoulder in 1997 after he picked up a heavy mailbag which he had dragged from his van on to a pavement.

Newcastle County Court heard that Mr Melvin's bag weighed more than the 16kg limit.

But he had told the court he was unaware of the 16kg rule and had been given no proper guidance on how to lift and carry the heavy mailbags.

Mr Recorder Morris said: "There is little or no evidence I have heard to the period prior to the accident of training and guidance which one would have expected that posties would be subject to."

But he found that if some postal workers were aware of the 16kg limit it would often be disregarded.

He said that some workers would fill their sacks with excessive amounts of mail to save themselves time.

The recorder added: "I am satisfied that the employer, the Post Office, could have taken steps and avoided the need for employees to undertake risky manual handling operations.

"It seems to me that from the evidence we have heard, that the posties would from time to time take out bags with excessive weight. No checks were in place."

Another hearing will take place later this year to assess the amount of damages to be paid.