Nick Smith MP for Blaenau Gwent has been visiting local Royal Mail Delivery Offices to pass on his thanks to the hardworking staff as they prepare for their busiest time of the year.

Mr Smith was welcomed to Abertillery delivery office by manager Gavin Williams on Friday, December 7 and then visited Ebbw Vale delivery office today (Friday December 14) where he was shown around by manager Ryan Burrows.

Mr Smith also met the postmen and women who will be pulling out all the stops to sort and deliver mail during the Christmas period.

The Festive Season is Royal Mail’s busiest period, as millions of gifts bought online are delivered alongside Christmas cards and parcels.

Mr Smith MP said: “It takes a massive effort to deliver a first class postal service at Christmas and I’ve met some very hardworking and dedicated staff who are committed to doing so.

“It was great to meet the teams in Abertillery and Ebbw Vale and I appreciated being given the chance to thank them all for their extra efforts this month.”

Ryan Burrows, Royal Mail Delivery Office Manager in Ebbw Vale said: “Our postmen and women will be working extremely hard to deliver Christmas parcels, cards, letters and parcels to people in Blaenau Gwent. We are grateful that Nick Smith visited the office to see our operation and to support the team.

“We’d like to remind our customers to post early this Christmas and to ensure all their mail is posted by the recommended dates, so that friends and family can enjoy their Christmas greetings and parcels . If everyone uses the postcode on every item of mail, this also helps us greatly in the job that we do at this very busy time.”

The last recommend posting dates for Christmas are:

Second Class – Tuesday, December 18

First Class – Thursday, December 20

Special Delivery – Saturday, December 22 

Customers can also help Royal Mail ensure that all their letters, cards and parcels are delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible by taking a few easy steps:

• Avoid disappointment by posting your cards and parcels early. 

• A clearly addressed card or parcel, with a postcode, and return address on the back of the envelope, will ensure quick and efficient delivery.

• For valuable and important packages and parcels guarantee delivery with Royal Mail’s Special Delivery, which means your gift is tracked, traced and insured against loss.

• Wrap parcels well and always give a return address