Royal Mail has issued a delivery update for addresses across the UK as delays are expected in 139 postcode areas. The delivery firm has shared a list of postcode areas that are most affected, meaning people living or working in those parts of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to face delays.
Leeds and Manchester mail centres affected
As of Tuesday, 17 August, there are delays in 139 postcode areas. There have also been issues at Leeds and Manchester mail centres. In Leeds, some mail posted yesterday in the BD, HD, HG, HX, LS and WF postcode areas are due for delivery today in other parts of the UK. In Manchester, some mail posted in the BL, M, OL and SK postcode areas are due for delivery today in other parts of the UK.
Royal Mail's statement on delays
Royal Mail's air and road network has ran to schedule over the past 24 hours. It said: "We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week." In a small number of local offices, this may temporarily not be possible due to local issues such as high levels of sick absence, resourcing, or other local factors. In those cases, we will rotate deliveries to minimise the delay to individual customers.
"We also provide targeted support to those offices to address their challenges and restore our service to the high standard our customers would normally receive. We're sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding."
Affected areas and delivery times
Royal Mail's delays are affecting parts of the UK, including Bedford, Bristol, Carmarthen, Inverclyde, Margate, Reading and Wolverhampton. Royal Mail aims to deliver to addresses by 4.30 pm every working day, which is Monday to Saturday. But, this does not apply in some locations such as Scotland's Highlands and Islands, where "transport is limited".
When it comes to Sunday and evening deliveries, Royal Mail explained: "We also make some scheduled parcel deliveries later, which can include deliveries in the evening. These parcel deliveries can include Sundays with some geographical exceptions."
Full list of postcode areas with delays
Altens DO (AB10-AB12, AB35), Basingstoke DO (RG21-RG26, RG28), Bedford MK40 DO (MK40-MK45), Bordon DO (GU35), Bridgnorth DO (WV15, WV16), Brierley Hill DO (DY5), Bristol North DO (BS6, BS7), Burslem DO (ST6), Calderway DO (WF12-WF14), Cambridge DO (CB1-CB5, CB21-CB25), Carmarthen DO (SA17, SA31, SA32, SA33), Chester DO (CH1-CH4, CH88, CH99), Chichester DO (PO18-PO20), Cullompton DO (EX15), Dudley DO (DY1-DY3), Ebbw Vale DO (NP23), Glossop DO (SK13), Gosforth DO (NE3, NE13), Harehills DO (LS8), Henfield DO (BN5, BN44), Heswall DO (CH31, CH60, CH61), Hoylake DO (CH47, CH48), Huntingdon DO (PE26-PE29), Ilfracombe DO (EX34), Inverclyde DO (PA14-PA19), Kentish Town DO (NW5), Llangefni DO (LL62-LL78), Margate DO (CT7-CT9), Milton Keynes Kiln Farm DO (MK8, MK11-MK14, MK19), Mold DO (CH7), Nuneaton DO (CV10, CV11, CV13), Orton Southgate DO (PE2, PE7-PE9), Port Ellen DO (PA42-PA49), Reading West DO (RG30, RG31), Rugeley DO (WS15), Shrewsbury DO (SY1-SY5), Stratford Upon Avon DO (CV36, CV37), Swindon DO (SN1, SN2, SN3, SN6, SN25, SN26, SN38, SN99), Torrington DO (EX38), Upton DO (CH30, CH49), Wednesbury DO (WS10), Wellington DO (TF1, TF5, TF6, TF13), Wilmslow DO (SK9), Wolverhampton NE DO (WV11, WV12).
