UNUSUAL post boxes like this one, pictured, in a Worcestershire village, will be better preserved thanks to new commitments from the Royal Mail and government agency Historic England.

The wall box, in Radford, near Rous Lench, Evesham, is part of a network of 115,300 post pillar, wall and lamp boxes across the UK.

The Royal Mail has pledged to manage, repair and conserve boxes in their existing locations and prevent illegal damage or theft of the boxes.

This particular letter box is Grade II listed, making it one of around 200 of the rarest letter boxes.

It is set within its own building, resembling a wayside shrine, and is believed to have been created by Reverend WKW Chafy between 1870 and 1880.

Readers who know more about the heritage of this box have been urged to share their knowledge with the Letter Box Study Group, the authority on Britain's letter boxes.

The group appealed for information about the Worcestershire post box as the Royal Mail and Historic England launched their new commitments to preserve the character and heritage of post boxes.

The Royal Mail's new policy updates its 2002 policy to recognise changes in legislation and allow for recent developments, such as painting 110 post boxes gold to celebrate London 2012 British Olympic and Paralympic champions.

And it renews Historic England's commitment to work with Royal Mail using heritage protection measures to ensure that post boxes are kept and well cared for wherever possible, the organisations said.

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage, with the idea of a locked roadside box and regular collection times adopted from the continent by novelist and General Post Office official Anthony Trollope.

The first free-standing post boxes were installed in the Channel Islands in 1852 and in mainland Britain in 1853.

Sue Whalley, Royal Mail's chief operating officer, said the policy would help ensure the preservation of all post boxes for future generations.

She said: "We are proud of our much-loved post boxes and go to great lengths to maintain and repair them."

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: "Post boxes are a cherished feature of British streets, adding character, colour and historic depth.

"Around 200 of the oldest and most rare are listed, but all are important to our heritage."

Anyone with information about the letter box can contact the Letter Box Study Group by emailing robert.cole@lbsg.org, visiting lbsg.org or tweeting @lbsg1976