Two of the UK’s first ever parcel postboxes will be located in Newark.

Royal Mail’s brand new parcel postboxes have been unveiled in the East Midlands, including two in Newark.

Fifty-six parcel postboxes are now available following the announcement earlier this year that Royal Mail is introducing the UK’s first ever parcel postboxes across the country.

The boxes in Newark will be located on Brunel Drive, opposite Bakkavor, and on Castlegate, near the entrance to Newark Castle.

Following a successful trial last year, Royal Mail have converted 1,400 existing meter boxes to include a wider aperture and secure design to accept parcels posted in the same way as letters.

This is the first time parcel postboxes have been widely introduced in the UK, and the launch represents the first major change of use for the postbox since it was introduced 160 years ago.

The change means that small businesses and marketplace sellers can post pre-paid parcels through securely designed parcel postboxes, in the same way that they currently post a letter. Parcels must be pre-paid through Click & Drop on Royal mail’s website.

Customers will also be able to post some return parcels at any time, seven days a week. Any returns made via parcel postboxes must include a Royal Mail barcode.

Mark Street, head of campaigns at Royal Mail said: “The introduction of the first parcel postboxes in East Midlands means that customers can now send parcels with pre-paid postage and their returns in the same way that they do letters.

“The new parcel postboxes provide added flexibility to online sellers who might be running a business in their spare time and not keeping regular office hours.”