Thirty UK postcodes are currently experiencing Royal Mail delivery disruptions, with ten of the affected areas located in the West Midlands. The announcement comes within hours of another increase to stamp prices. Royal Mail has confirmed that a small number of local delivery offices are temporarily unable to reach every address on a daily basis, citing staff absence and resourcing pressures as the primary causes.
West Midlands Among the Hardest Hit
The West Midlands accounts for a third of the affected postcodes, with disruption reported in Aldridge (WS9), Dudley (DY1, DY2, DY3), Lichfield (WS7, WS13, WS14), Rugeley (WS15), Southam (CV47) and Stone (ST15). The geographic spread across the conurbation suggests the difficulties are not isolated to a single facility.
Outside the region, delays have also been confirmed in Barry, Cranleigh, Deeside, Fareham, Farnborough, New Ferry, Petersfield, Pontyclun, Prenton, Selsey, Sunbury-on-Thames and Yate, among others.
Royal Mail said in a statement: “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.”
The postal service added that, where full daily delivery is not possible, it will rotate rounds to limit the delay experienced by individual customers, and that targeted support is being provided to affected offices.
Dog Attacks on Postal Workers Continue to Rise
Separately, Royal Mail has renewed its call for households with dogs to display a four-word warning sign, “I have a dog” after figures showed the number of attacks on postal workers rose again over the past year.
According to data published in June 2025, dog attacks increased by 2% year-on-year, reaching 2,197 recorded incidents. That figure equates to roughly 42 attacks every week across the United Kingdom, with Royal Mail noting that some workers have sustained serious, life-altering injuries as a result.
The organisation has described door signs as one of the simplest and most effective preventive measures available to pet owners, and says deliveries may be suspended to properties where safety concerns are not addressed. Royal Mail said it was sorry for any inconvenience caused by the current delivery disruptions and thanked customers for their understanding, while reiterating its commitment to restoring normal service standards as quickly as possible.
Stamp Price Increase Takes Effect Amid Scrutiny of Late Deliveries
The disruption coincides with a fresh increase to stamp prices, which came into force on 7 April. First Class stamps have risen to £1.80 and Second Class to 91p. By comparison, a First Class stamp cost 76p in 2020, representing a significant cumulative increase over six years.
Royal Mail attributed the price rise to falling letter volumes alongside a growing number of delivery addresses. Richard Travers, the company’s managing director of letters, said the organisation “always considers price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail.” He noted that UK adults now spend an average of just £6.50 per year on stamps, and that 70% fewer letters are sent than two decades ago, while the number of addresses served has grown by four million to reach 32 million across the UK.
The timing of the increase has drawn attention given the ongoing delivery difficulties. Royal Mail’s owner, Daniel Kretinsky, faced questions from MPs on the company’s track record, telling the Commons Business select committee: “Of course I am deeply sorry for any letters that arrive late.” He nonetheless rejected the suggestion that performance was deteriorating, describing the situation as “not perfect, but not catastrophic.”
