People are being urged to send their Christmas post ahead of schedule if they want it to be delivered on time.
Royal Mail said gifts and cards would need to be posted sooner rather than later due to upcoming strikes.
The company has brought forward its latest recommended posting dates for domestic and international mail to help manage any impact from planned industrial action.
Members of the Communication Workers Union are set to walk out on December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24.
It’s expected to have a major impact on the reliability of the service during the busiest time of year.
Final suggested dates for sending second-class post has been brought forward from December 19 to 12 and for first class from December 21 to 16.
With the threat of more planned CWU strike action across the UK, Royal Mail said it continues to deploy a range of contingency plans.
Nick Landon, chief commercial officer, Royal Mail, said: ‘The CWU is striking at our busiest time, holding Christmas to ransom for our customers, businesses and families across the country.
‘We apologise to our customers for any disruption and delay that the CWU strike action is causing. We ask our customers to post early for Christmas to help us deliver Christmas.’
Laura Joseph, Post Office customer experience director, said: ‘December 12 is now likely to be even busier in Post Office branches as customers race to take advantage of the cheaper postage as this is now the last recommended date for sending second-class parcels to arrive for Christmas.
‘As soon as you’ve got your parcels ready to go, don’t wait to come into branch and get them in the post – many Post Office branches are open long hours and some are open seven days a week so pop into your local branch and get your gifts sent in time for Christmas.’
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