Royal Mail has issued a delivery disruption alert for 27 postcode areas across the UK, warning that homes and businesses may not receive mail on time. The affected areas include Bicester, New Ferry, and Perth, among others.
The company cited local issues such as high levels of sick absence, resourcing problems, or other local factors as reasons for the delays. Royal Mail stated it would rotate deliveries to minimise inconvenience and provide targeted support to affected offices.
Over the past 24 hours, Royal Mail's air and road network has run to schedule, but further delays have been reported at Norwich Mail Centre. Some mail posted in the NR postcode area for delivery elsewhere in the UK may be affected.
Additional delays are expected next week due to the Spring Bank Holiday, with no collections or deliveries except in Ayr (KA6-KA8). The disruption comes as Royal Mail faces a £21 million fine from Ofcom for missing delivery targets in 2024-25, delivering only 77% of First Class and 92.5% of Second Class post on time.
As part of a £500 million turnaround plan, Royal Mail aims to meet letter delivery targets by May 2027. Proposals include axing Saturday Second Class deliveries and moving to alternate weekday schedules. The firm has pledged to improve First Class Next Day delivery to around 85% within nine months, reaching the 90% target within a year.
