Quick Answer: Royal Mail has warned that post will not arrive on time this weekend in 87 postcode areas. The delays hit towns such as Ashington, Barry and Dudley. Staff shortages and high sick absences are the main causes. Affected homes may still get post, but on a rotating basis to cut the wait.
According to Royal Mail’s latest Service Update, delivery delays are affecting 87 UK postcode areas this weekend due to local operational issues. The worst clusters in the West Midlands and Wales. Thousands of households face a knock-on wait for letters and parcels.
- 87 postcode areas will face late post this weekend.
- The main causes are sick absences, resourcing and other local issues.
- Deliveries are rotated so no single home is left waiting too long.
- Royal Mail delivered around 75.7% of first-class letters on the next working day during 2025/26, below Ofcom’s performance expectations.
- You can check your postcode on Royal Mail’s online service tool.
Why Royal Mail Issued Delivery Warnings Across 87 UK Postcode Areas
According to Royal Mail’s official Service Update, 87 postcode areas are experiencing temporary delivery delays because of high levels of sick absence, resourcing issues and other local operational challenges. Royal Mail says deliveries are being rotated to minimise delays for individual customers.
The problem is not the national network. Royal Mail’s road and air links ran to schedule. The trouble sits in the final mile, where local offices are short of staff.
Royal Mail’s official update explained the reason in plain terms.
“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 be impossible due to 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.”
The firm added: “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.”
Several UK media outlets, including Express, also reported that the delays are affecting thousands of households. A separate report by Streamline Feed noted a heavy concentration of problems in the West Midlands, including Dudley, Rugeley and Wolverhampton.
The numbers shift daily. Earlier in the week, 90 postcodes were listed. The week before that, 153 areas faced disruption.
Full List of Affected Postcode Areas
The full list is grouped by delivery office. Wales, the North East and the West Midlands carry the heaviest load this weekend. Check the table below to see if your town is named.
| Delivery Office | Postcodes |
| Abergavenny | NP7, NP8 |
| Ashington | NE22, NE62–NE64 |
| Barry | CF63 |
| Blyth | NE24 |
| Brierley Hill | DY5 |
| Calderway | WF12–WF14 |
| Cambridge | CB1–CB5, CB21–CB25 |
| Carmarthen | SA17, SA31, SA32, SA33 |
| Deal | CT14 |
| Dudley | DY1–DY3 |
| Ebbw Vale | NP23 |
| Frinton on Sea | CO13, CO14 |
| Gosforth | NE3, NE13 |
| Heswall | CH31, CH60, CH61 |
| Llangefni | LL62–LL78 |
| Llanrwst | LL24–LL27 |
| Milton Keynes Kiln Farm | MK8, MK11–MK14, MK19 |
| Minehead | TA22, TA23, TA24 |
| Mold | CH7 |
| Mumbles | SA3 |
| Penarth | CF64 |
| Portslade | BN41, BN42 |
| Rugeley | WS15 |
| St Helens | WA9–WA11 |
| Stalybridge | SK15 |
| Stourport on Severn | DY13 |
| Tipton | DY4 |
| Tiverton | EX16, EX18 |
| Wallingford | OX10, OX49 |
| Wednesbury | WS10 |
| Wolverhampton NE | WV11, WV12 |
Royal Mail’s Delivery Record Under Pressure
These delays land at a bad time for the firm. Its wider record is already under fire. The Mirror pointed out that disruption keeps returning week after week.
The core target is clear. Royal Mail delivered around 75.7% of first-class letters on the next working day during the 2025/26 financial year, remaining below Ofcom’s delivery performance expectations. That gap has led to fines and public criticism.
The service still runs six days a week. First-class mail should arrive the next working day. Second-class letters are now delivered on alternate weekdays, with Ofcom requiring delivery within three working days.
New ‘Something For You’ Cards
Royal Mail has also changed the cards it leaves when nobody is home. The old slips were easy to lose and often hard to read.
Royal Mail has redesigned its “Something for You” cards by adding a QR code and a nine-digit reference number. Customers can scan the QR code to track their parcel and arrange a redelivery more easily. The feature was also highlighted in reports by The Sun.
How to Check Delays in Your Area
The simplest step is to check your postcode. Royal Mail runs an online service update tool. Just type in your postcode to see the latest status.
The list is refreshed every day. So a delay today may clear tomorrow. You can also sign up for email alerts to stay informed. Weekend cover is split. Saturday sees both letters and parcels. Royal Mail generally delivers parcels on Sundays, while standard letter deliveries do not normally take place.
Stop Your Post Going to a Neighbour
Would you rather your post never go next door? You can order a free opt-out sticker from Royal Mail. Display it on or near your letterbox. Once it is up, your mail will not be left with a neighbour. The sticker arrives within four working days.
FAQs
Q. Which areas are affected by Royal Mail delays this weekend?
A. Around 87 postcode areas are listed, including Ashington, Barry, Dudley, Carmarthen, Milton Keynes and Wolverhampton. The West Midlands and Wales are the worst hit.
Q. Why is Royal Mail delaying deliveries?
A. High sick absence, staff shortages and other local factors cause the delays. Some local delivery offices do not currently have enough staff to complete every delivery round on schedule.
Q. How can I check if my postcode is affected?
A. Use Royal Mail’s online service-update tool and enter your postcode. The list is updated daily, so check it again the next morning for changes.
Q. Will I still get my post if my area is listed?
A. Yes, but not always on time. Royal Mail rotates deliveries so each address gets served in turn and no home waits too long.
Q. Does Royal Mail deliver at weekends?
A. Yes. Letters and parcels are delivered on Saturdays. Only parcels are delivered on Sundays. There are no standard letter deliveries on a Sunday.
Q. What is the new QR code on Royal Mail cards?
A. The redesigned ‘Something for you’ card now has a QR code and a nine-digit number. Scan it with your phone to track your parcel and book a redelivery.
Sources & References:
- Royal Mail– Official Service Update
- Royal Mail– Something for You Card
- Express – The delays have affected thousands of homes in 87 UK postcode areas.
- The Sun – The new card ‘Something For You’ carries a QR code and a nine-digit number.
- Streamline Feed – There is a heavy concentration of problems in the West Midlands, including Dudley, Rugeley and Wolverhampton.
- Mirror – The disruption keeps returning week after week.
