Green light for postal changes

ROYAL Mail can ditch second-class letter deliveries on Saturdays and change the service to every other weekday under a series of reforms by regulator Ofcom that will also see it review the rising cost of stamps.

- HOLLY WILLIAMS

Ofcom said it had given the green light to Royal Mail to axe the six-day-a-week service for second-class letters, but it must keep Monday to Saturday deliveries for first-class post.

It said it would maintain the target for second-class letters to arrive within three working days despite allowing changing deliveries to alternate weekdays.

The changes can take effect from July 28 and come after a lengthy consultation that will help Royal Mail cut costs by between £250m and £425m a year, according to Ofcom.