A Birmingham Evening Mail investigation has revealed what it calls bullying, racism and a worrying lack of security in the city's postal service.

Mail reporter Guy Newey went undercover to work at Birmingham's Newtown centre sorting office for two weeks, and reported how he found staff were untrained, unchecked and at times unable to cope.

All it took for Guy to win a casual job at the sorting office was a phone call, an application form and some simple tests, and without an interview or having any references checked he was able to start work.

He said: "My two references were both fake, but they were never checked. I used my real name and omitted only my journalistic experience, claiming I had been travelling since college. No-one asked me anything about my application form.

"But, within days, I was sorting out the police documents, city council mail and new credit cards that pass through the centre every day."

During his two weeks there, Guy spoke to full-time and casual staff, and his finding were published in two double-page spreads in the Mail.

Deputy editor Colin Clarke said: "In the last year we have carried dozens and dozens of stories regarding Royal Mail, with strikes, threatened strikes and tribunals.

"We've also had complaints from readers about the service they have received, and reports of morning post which hasn't arrived until after six o'clock in the evening.

"Each time we've thought that we were going to have to do more than report on the problem and that's why we decided to do this undercover investigation.

"If any justification was needed, you only need to look at our letters pages."

During Guy's time as a Royal Mail worker he found a sinister side to life in the sorting office, and despite a diverse workforce he witnessed staff expressing openly racist views.

He said: "One white worker went on a 20-minute Islamophobic rant, blaming the religion for all the problems of the world.

"I was shocked that he felt able enough to express these views so openly."

He was also told by colleagues that there was problem with thefts, and he was never issued with a security pass and instead had to "tail-gate" and go through the door at the same time as someone who did have a pass.

He said: "This practice has become so common that no one challenges you. If you wait until someone opens the door you can walk into the building unchallenged."

Guy also found training to be of a poor standard, and after five hours in the job he was asked to train three new casuals.

He said: "In my ten days in the sorting office only one manager explained what was expected. It took ten minutes - and that night my efficiency improved amazingly."

As part of the Mail's coverage it also published a response to its findings from Royal Mail Birmingham area manager Dave Schofield.

He told the paper that all criminal records are checked before anyone enters the sorting office and references are checked within three weeks.

He also said racism was being tackled, with all contracted staff completing four-hour sessions in diversity training, and that staff have access to a harassment and bullying helpline. At least three or four employees have been dismissed for racist remarks in the last year.

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