Royal Mail is claiming it is “business as usual” despite the worst early winter weather in almost two decades, which is estimated to be costing the UK economy £1.2bn a day.
The postal operator said that mail collection, distribution, processing and deliveries are taking place as usual across the majority of the UK but in areas most severely affected by the weather conditions, service disruption was unavoidable.
The move comes as Royal Mail revealed it has recruited almost 20,000 workers to help handle its festive mailbag of around 2 billion items, with more than 70,000 people applying for jobs.
Recruits will work in mail and distribution centres across the UK helping to sort Christmas cards and packets before they go to more than 1,400 delivery offices for posties to take out on their rounds.
Royal Mail’s head of resourcing Maurice Harbottle said: “We have seen a phenomenal response from people keen to earn extra money over the festive season and help Royal Mail deliver a great Christmas for its customers.
“We are delighted with the number and quality of the applications and, as well as some new temporary recruits, many of the people we will be using are regulars who support our operation Christmas after Christmas.”
Royal Mail expects to handle around 750 million Christmas cards this year as well as 165 million items ordered online – an increase of 10 million on last year.
