Royal Mail SCRAPS pledge to deliver in time for Christmas: Special delivery service is suspended amid mounting chaos at sorting offices
Royal Mail is suspending a service guaranteeing rapid delivery of parcels in time for Christmas amid chaos in sorting offices and Covid-19 disruption.
The delivery of letters and packages to Europe has also been temporarily halted as fears grow over the more infectious strain of the virus in the UK.
Images posted online in recent days have shown mountains of sacks at sorting offices around the country.
The delivery of letters and packages to Europe has also been temporarily halted as fears grow over the more infectious strain of the virus in the UK (file image)
The situation has now escalated following the discovery of the new mutant strain and strict Tier Four restrictions covering London and much of the south-east.
Royal Mail’s special delivery guarantee, which should mean items posted on December 23 arrive on Christmas Eve, has been suspended. The service can still be used today but it seems likely there will be long Post Office queues to get items into the system.
Parcel deliveries both in and out of the UK have also been hit by the suspension of flights and shipping due to new border controls imposed on Britain.
Parcel deliveries both in and out of the UK have also been hit by the suspension of flights and shipping due to new border controls imposed on Britain (file image)
Royal Mail has suspended deliveries of packages and letters to mainland Europe, Canada and Turkey. German firm Deutsche Post has temporarily halted services to Great Britain and Ireland.
Royal Mail said on its website yesterday: ‘In light of the changing coronavirus restrictions announced on Saturday, we have made the difficult decision to make the following changes to our timed guarantees for our special delivery by 9am and 1pm services.
‘For special delivery guaranteed by 9am and special delivery guaranteed by 1pm items posted on Wednesday December 23 we are suspending our delivery guarantee.’ The company added: ‘We can assure you that we will be endeavouring to deliver all items as quickly as possible.’
It said the closure of the port of Dover and flight bans were causing ‘significant disruption’ to international services, adding that it is ‘seeking alternative access points pending the opening of borders’.
Items that are already in the system are being made ready for dispatch and will be held securely until they can be delivered.
It said the closure of the port of Dover and flight bans were causing ‘significant disruption’ to international services, adding that it is ‘seeking alternative access points pending the opening of borders’
The company said: ‘We’re working with our airline and postal/courier partners across the globe to maintain services, however delays should be expected.’
Deutsche Post said the same disruption to shipping and flights means it is temporarily suspending parcel delivery services from the Continent to the UK.
It said: ‘We have sadly been forced to impose a complete stop on deliveries for private and business packages and goods-bearing letters to Great Britain and Ireland until further notice.’