ALMOST two-thirds of businesses and homes in Somerset will not receive their post until the afternoon following a further shake-up of Royal Mail services.

The proposal, outlined in a consultation paper, could mean the end of the morning post for millions of people.

Currently, 94.4% of homes and businesses receive their mail before noon, with some receiving deliveries as early as 7am.

Under then new plan, no one would receive anything before 10.30am, while 60% would have to wait until after midday.

A European directive that will limit heavy lorries to 56mph, including mail trucks, has sparked the change, named 'Delivery Best Practice'.

Royal Mail claims the speed restrictions will slow down deliveries to sorting offices.

Royal Mail is under no legal obligation to deliver post before noon, although research shows the overwhelming majority of consumers value morning deliveries.

The consultation document says the plan would be to 'shift the peak in residential deliveries between 10.30am and 2pm'.

An accompanying graph shows there will be no deliveries before 10.30am.

Ten per cent would be delivered by 11am, ten per cent by 11.30am and a further 20% by noon.

The graph suggests the rest of the post would arrive by 2.15pm.

Many of those receiving post in the last wave could find themselves unable to reply overnight because they have already missed the last collection from their post box, thousands of which have had their final pick-up times brought forward to before noon.

The British Chamber of Commerce, consumer body Postwatch and The Communication Workers Union have condemned the proposals.

Public consultation on the plan ends on August 28. If approved, they could come into effect before Christmas.

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