Royal Mail has issued a delivery delay warning for 62 postcode areas across the UK this weekend, affecting mail scheduled for Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June. The company cited local issues such as high levels of sick absence, resourcing problems, and other local factors as reasons for the temporary disruptions.
Affected areas include Nottingham, Oxfordshire, Ashington, Ilfracombe, and Pontyclun, among others. Royal Mail stated that it aims to deliver to all addresses six days a week but acknowledged that in a small number of local offices, this may not be possible temporarily. The company said it would rotate deliveries to minimise delays and provide targeted support to affected offices.
Royal Mail has faced criticism over late deliveries and was fined £21 million by Ofcom in October for missing its targets. In the 2024-2025 period, it delivered only 77% of First Class post and 92.5% of Second Class post on time. The company has set improvement targets, aiming to achieve around 85% First Class Next Day delivery within nine months and 90% within a year, as required by Ofcom.
Royal Mail also committed to delivering 93% of Second Class letters within three days over nine months, reaching 95% by May next year. Chief operating officer Jamie Stephenson said the company is investing significantly in improving reliability but noted that lasting change takes time. He emphasised the importance of Universal Service reform to adapt the network to current mailing habits while protecting the one-price-goes-anywhere service.
