Royal Mail has issued a new update on delivery delays as 92 postcodes across the UK are impacted by sickness and resourcing issues
13:19, 20 Dec 2025Updated 13:47, 20 Dec 2025
Royal Mail deliveries have been hit by delays around the UK including Northern Ireland at Christmas(Image: Getty)
Royal Mail has released a fresh update today amidst significant delivery disruptions across the UK. The company has acknowledged that sickness and other issues have impacted delivery offices nationwide including 9 in Belfast, Lisburn and Derry.
Today, it disclosed a list of 92 postcodes where delivery guarantees cannot be made. This could potentially mean that crucial cards and parcels may not reach households before Christmas.
To manage the festive season rush, Royal Mail has recruited approximately 20,000 additional staff to assist with mail transportation, sorting, and delivery.
Royal Mail stated: “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 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.”
We’re sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. We will regularly update customers on the offices most impacted.
“The Royal Mail was acquired by new owners in 2024, but the sale came with a commitment to uphold their obligations to deliver first class mail six days a week.A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “We take any reports of delay seriously and will further investigate these concerns.
“We want to reassure customers that the overwhelming majority of mail is being delivered on time – where a route is affected we prioritise any delayed items the following day.”
route is affected we prioritise any delayed items the following day. “.
Royal Mail has stated that it’s implementing measures to enhance the dependability of its services, which include recruiting additional personnel and bolstering its delivery offices. The company is also gearing up to implement changes that will eliminate second-class deliveries on Saturdays and transition the service to alternate weekdays.
It has been trialling this new delivery model and plans to continue its deployment from early next year.
Postcodes most impacted by delivery problems – update for December 20 and 21Altens DO (AB10, AB11, AB12 and AB35)Ashington DO (NE22, NE62, NE63 and NE64)Belfast West DO (BT10, BT11, BT12 and BT17)Bristol East DO (BS5)Brixton DO (SW2)Callington DO (PL17 and PL18)Clevedon DO (BS21 and BS49)Dundee East DO (DD4, DD5 and DD7)Dunstable DO (LU5 and LU6)Dursley DO (GL11, GL12 and GL13)Dyce DO (AB21)Egremont DO (CA21, CA22, CA23, CA24, CA25 and CA27)Erskine DO (PA7 and PA8)Glasgow G52 DO (G52 and G53)Gloucester North DO (GL3 and GL4)Johnstone DO (PA5, PA6, PA9, PA10 and PA12)Lichfield DO (WS7, WS13 and WS14)Lisburn DO (BT26, BT27 and BT28)Londonderry DO (BT47 and BT48)Northwich DO (CW8 and CW9)Nottingham South DO (NG2 and NG12)Paisley DO (PA1, PA2 and PA3)Pontefract DO (WF7, WF8, WF9 and WF11)Renfrew DO (PA4)Seaham DO (SR7)Sleaford DO (NG34)St Helens DO (WA9, WA10 and WA11)Stalybridge SUDO (SK15)Tipton DO (DY4)Warrington DO (WA1, WA2, WA4, WA5 and WA55)Westhill DO (AB13, AB14 and AB32)Whitehaven DO (CA18-CA20, CA26 and CA28)Whitwood DO (WF6 and WF10)Wigan DO (WN1-WN6)Last posting dates
Saturday 20 December
1st Class
1st Class Signed For
Sunday 21 December
Royal Mail Tracked 24
Tuesday 23 December
Special Delivery Guaranteed
Parcelforce Worldwide – UK inland service
Monday 22 December
express10
expressPM
express24