Royal Mail is adding bar codes to millions of second class stamps as part of a trial it says is poised to pave the way for innovative customer services and benefits in the future.

The initial pilot will see new-look bar codes appear on around 20 million second class stamps supplied to UK businesses.

Bar codes could be linked to a service relevant to customers.

The first barcoded stamps will be sold online to businesses from March 23 via Viking Direct and the Royal Mail shop.

Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, said: “This initiative will see Royal Mail become one of the first postal authorities in the world to add unique barcodes to stamps.

“By doing this, we are looking to transform the humble stamp so that we can offer our customers even more convenient, new services in the future.”