ROYAL Mail has announced changes in the way its postal service will operate throughout Wareham’s BH20 postcode area.

Postmen and women are set to implement new methods and revised routes over the next few weeks, which could mean delivery times may change.

Revised delivery routes are being launched on a phased basis, says Royal Mail spokesman Val Bodden.

She explained: “Fewer letters and more parcels are being posted every day and we needed to organise our delivery routes to be as efficient as possible.

“Whereas before you may have had separate deliveries of letters and parcels, now, in urban areas, we’re looking at ways of postmen sharing vans and delivering letters and parcels at the same time.”

This means the traditional solitary postal worker on their round may become a seldom sight in Wareham.

However, more rural routes surrounding the Purbeck market town will continue to be served by lone postmen and women.

Customers throughout the BH20 post code will be written to by the Royal Mail informing them of the changes.

Mail will continue to be delivered in the morning and for a longer period in the day.

Many customers will still get their mail by lunchtime, while others – depending on where they live on the revised delivery routes – could find their mail arriving later or earlier.

With the popularity of internet shopping the Royal Mail is being tasked to deliver an increasing number of larger items.

Ms Bodden said the company was investing in “new equipment to carry these items to customers even more securely.”

She added: “If customers have any queries after they have received a letter, they can call our customer services team on 0845 601 1399.

Our deaf and hard of hearing customers can use our textphone: 0845 600 0606.”