OL of a task for posties

Postal staff in Rochdale and Oldham have got their work cut this winter as items are set to swell by more the five million.

A total of 16.6 million cards and presents are set to be delivered to homes in the OL postcode area during the four weeks in the run up to Christmas. This is up from the usual mailbag of 11.1 million items.

Nationwide, Royal Mail is laying on 5,000 extra vehicles and 18,000 temporary staff to handle the UK’s festive mailbag. Around 38,000 trucks and vans will be used to distribute the post.

And to help make sure cards and parcels arrive on time on time, Royal Mail is encouraging customers to: post early, use a postcode and use special delivery for valuable packages and parcels.

Last posting dates: 

• Monday 5 December for mail outside Western Europe.
• Friday 9 December for Eastern Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan.
• Monday 12 December for airmail items to Western Europe.
• Saturday 17 December for 2nd Class items.
• Tuesday 20 December for 1st Class items.
• Thursday 22 December for Special Delivery items