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Several red post boxes across the city have been wrapped up in black bags by Royal Mail this December.
It has left many residents scratching their heads about why their post boxes are out of action and debating when they will return.
Some post boxes also have a sign asking residents to scan a QR code to find their nearest working post box, while others have the box’s door completely removed.
Why do black bags cover post boxes in Worcester?
Many post boxes have been covered in black bin bags while Royal Mail look to roll out 3,500 solar-powered “postboxes of the future” across the UK.
The boxes will feature a digitally activated drop-down drawer that allows customers to send parcels as large as a shoebox.
Customers scan a barcode on the Royal Mail app to open the drawer, which is designed for parcels too large to fit through the traditional slot.
The redesigned boxes also feature a separate slot for letters, as well as a solar panel to power the scanner and drawer mechanism.
Proof of posting and parcel tracking is available through the Royal Mail app, with the new service aimed at those sending or returning items purchased online.
Biggest change to the postbox in its 175-year history
Previously, Jack Clarkson, managing director of out-of-home and commercial excellence at Royal Mail, said: “We are all sending and returning more parcels than ever before.
“This trend will only continue as online shopping shows no signs of slowing, particularly with the boom of second-hand marketplaces.
“There are 115,000 postboxes in the UK located within half a mile of 98% of addresses, making them by far the most convenient network of parcel drop-off points in the UK.
“Our message is clear, if you have a Royal Mail label on your parcel, and it fits, put it in a postbox and we’ll do the rest.”
