Royal Mail has warned on its website that 24 mailing locations across the UK, including ones in Cheshire, could face delays to deliveries in the run-up to Christmas.

This is largely due to Covid-19 infections among Royal Mail staff.

The website reads: “Deliveries are operating as normal across most of the country today. We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week.

"In a small number of local offices this may temporarily not be possible due to local issues such as COVID-related self isolation, high levels of sick absence, resourcing, or other local factors. In those cases we will rotate deliveries to minimise the delay to individual customers.

“We also provide targeted support to those offices to address their challenges and restore our service to the high standard our customers would normally receive.”

Royal Mail locations that could face delays

  • Belfast West DO (BT10 - BT12 and BT17)
  • Belper DO (DE56)
  • Burnham On Crouch DO (CM0 8)
  • Chelmsford DO (CM1 to CM3)
  • Congleton DO (CW4 and CW12)
  • Cricklewood DO (NW2)
  • Eccles DO (M30)
  • Farnborough DO (GU14)
  • Finsbury Park DO (N4 and N15)
  • Havant DO (PO9-10)
  • Hornsey DO (N8)
  • Longton DO (ST3 and ST11)
  • New Ferry DO (CH32, CH62 and CH63)
  • Northwich DO (CW8 to CW9)
  • Pontypridd DO (CF37, CF38 and CF46)
  • Rayleigh DO (SS6)
  • Shrewsbury DO (SY1 to SY5)
  • South Croydon DO (CR2)
  • St. Helens DO (WA9 to WA11)
  • Stocksbridge (S36)
  • Upminster DO (RM14)
  • Upton DO (CH30 and CH49)
  • Warrington DO (WA1 to WA2 and WA4 to WA5)
  • Willesden DO (NW10 and NW26)

There is also a warning for 10 local offices that not all mail was processed or despatched to schedule over the past 24 hours, and as a result may be delivered slightly later than expected.

These locations are:

  • Exeter Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in other parts of the UK for delivery today in the EX and TQ postcode areas.
  • Chelmsford Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in other parts of the UK for delivery today in the CM, CO and SS postcode areas.
  • Chester Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in other parts of the UK for delivery today in the CH, LL and SY postcode areas.
  • Home Counties North Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in other parts of the UK for delivery today in the AL, EN, HP, LU, SG and WD postcode areas.
  • Norwich Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in other parts of the UK for delivery today in the IP and NR postcode areas.
  • Southampton Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in other parts of the UK for delivery today in the PO, SO and SP postcode areas.
  • South Midlands Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in other parts of the UK for delivery today in the CV, LE, MK and NN postcode areas.
  • Swindon Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in other parts of the UK for delivery today in the OX, RG and SN postcode areas.
  • Manchester Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in in the BL, M, OL and SK postcode areas for delivery today in other parts of the UK.
  • Nottingham Mail Centre: Some mail posted yesterday in in the DE and NG postcode areas for delivery today in other parts of the UK.

What to do if your Royal Mail parcel has been delayed?

If your parcel has been delayed then you should contact Royal Mail Customer Services to get assistance.

You can also contact the retailer who can find out more about your delivery and when you should be expected to receive it. 

For up to date information on Royal Mail services and last dates for Christmas, visit the website here.