Parcel collection added to postmen’s rounds

Royal Mail is expanding its parcel delivery system with postmen picking up pre-booked packages as part of their rounds.

The Parcel Collect service has been tested around Bristol and will be rolled out nationwide from Wednesday with a 72p charge, plus postal costs.

Pre-paid return packages can be collected for 60p per item as part of the service, which will operate six days a week.

Bookings for up to five items per customer each day can be made online up to five days in advance, right up to midnight the day before collection.

Slots of between two and four hours will e provided for parcels under 20kg and no bigger than 61cm x 46cm x 46cm.

The move follows the rise in online shopping during the coronavirus figures with Royal Mail looking for fresh ways to raise revenue in a changing market.

The company reported £139million increase in revenue in the five months to August 30 with 177 million more parcels handled compared with the previous year.

In the same period, letter volumes fell by more than a quarter with more than one billion sent.