Ninety-two point one per cent of Royal Mail’s First Class letters were delivered the next working day, below its target of 93% in the latest quarter. In the UK, Royal Mail is the only delivery company that is required to publish its Quality of Service results quarterly against its targets. This is one of the highest quality of service specifications in any major EU country.

Sue Whalley, CEO Post & Parcels UK, Royal Mail said: “Royal Mail operates under some of the most demanding Quality of Service standards in the whole of Europe. We’re disappointed with current performance. We are focusing on maintaining our high levels of customer satisfaction. That includes innovation like providing more email and SMS notifications to our customers and the ongoing trial of parcel postboxes.”