Price of stamps set to rise

Royal Mail has announced the price of first and second class stamps is set to rise again in April.

From 6 April 2009 a first-class stamp will cost 39p while second-class will be priced at 30p

Royal Mail issued a statement defending the price increase claiming that stamped mail remains very affordable.

Meanwhile Dutch firm TNT confirmed it would be interested in a stake in Royal Mail following the governments initial backing of a report suggesting it should be part-privatised.

Many local residents were shocked to find they had to pay fees at the post office to accept Christmas cards last year which were posted by friends & relatives with insufficient postage.

This was following changes made to how mail was charged, basing prices on size in addition to the weight. If you are ever in any doubt, take your mail/parcel to the post office or pickup a size chart before applying stamps to your post.