Royal Mail gets go ahead to axe second-class post on Saturdays

Deliveries will also alternate on weekdays as Ofcom says ruling reflects changing behaviour of users

Royal Mail has been given the green light to drop Saturday deliveries of second-class letters and provide services only on alternating weekdays from Monday to Friday under new rules announced by the regulator.

Ofcom said that reforms of the universal services obligation (USO) reflected changing behaviour of postal users, with fewer letters being sent across the country. The regulator said it could end up saving the postal delivery service between 250m and 425m each year.