PostgreSQL server failed to start, could not create lock file: permission denied

I am attempting to install and run a postgreSQL server, whenever I install it using

sudo apt-get install postgresql

I get the following error:

* Starting PostgreSQL 9.1 database server                                       * The PostgreSQL server failed to start. Please check the log output:2014-04-03 17:18:16 PDT FATAL:  could not create lock file     "/var/run/postgresql/.s.PGSQL.5432.lock": Permission denied                                                                    [fail]invoke-rc.d: initscript postgresql, action "start" failed.dpkg: error processing postgresql-common (--configure):subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of postgresql-9.1:postgresql-9.1 depends on postgresql-common (>= 115~); however:Package postgresql-common is not configured yet.dpkg: error processing postgresql-9.1 (--configure): dependency problems - leaving unconfigureddpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of postgresql: postgresql depends on postgresql-9.1; however:  Package postgresql-9.1 is not configured yet.dpkg: error processing postgresql (--configure): dependency problems - leaving unconfiguredNo apport report written because the error message indicates its a followup error from a          previous failure.Errors were encountered while processing: postgresql-common postgresql-9.1 postgresqlE: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

I am guessing it's a permissions issue; how do I go about solving it?I am running Ubuntu 13.10