Christmas cards may not be delivered until February due to usual seasonal backlogs worsened by strikes, it is reported.
Mountains of post have already been pictured outside Royal Mail centres due to industrial action and that was before a fresh walkout by 115,000 posties on Friday.
New advice is now to send items sooner than originally suggested with the postal service moving last posting dates forward as more strike dates were announced by the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
Union members have been taking industrial action in a dispute over pay, working conditions and jobs, with some saying cuts to the Royal Mail have led to its downfall in recent times.
Further strikes throughout December included Friday 9, as well as Sunday 11, Wednesday 14, Thursday 15, Friday 23 and Saturday 24 still to come.
And the strikes are having a “catastrophic” impact that will lead to people not getting deliveries for several months, a union source has reportedly said.
“The back-up of the post is really bad. Royal Mail is focusing on parcels and there is not a lot of room in the model for letters,” the insider told The Telegraph.
He added: “Christmas cards will likely be very late” with some “certainly” not arriving until February.
Royal Mail, though, has reportedly said that there is no reason to believe that Christmas card deliveries will be delayed so long.
Royal Mail offered a revised, nine-per-cent pay deal over 18 months as part of its "final offer" which the CWU has rejected. The company last week accused the union of "holding Christmas to ransom" as the fallout continued.
Customers have been warned to expect delays and disruption during the festive period.
The company said in a statement: "Royal Mail has well-developed contingency plans, but we cannot fully replace the daily efforts of our frontline workforce. We'll be doing what we can to keep services running, but we are sorry this planned strike action is likely to cause you some disruption."
The last posting days for Christmas have been brought forward to help manage the impact of the strikes. Customers have been urged to allow "plenty of time" to get Christmas cards and gifts to their loved ones.
In the UK (inland only), anyone sending 2nd Class or 2nd Class Signed-For post should do so by Monday, December 12. For 1st Class, 1st Class Signed-For, Royal Mail 24 and Royal Mail 48 cards or packages to reach friends and family on time, send by Friday, December 16.
Bulk Mail Economy packages must be sent by Wednesday, December 7 and Special Delivery Guaranteed parcels must be sent by Wednesday, December 21. And those sending items or cards internationally will need to allow even more time.
The Mirror has contacted the Royal Mail for comment
