The Post Office has announced the recommended last dates to send Christmas mail.

Airmail bound for Africa and Middle East should be sent no later than December 1, while Cyprus, Asia and Far East (excluding Japan), Eastern Europe except Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia is December 5.

Mail for the Caribbean, Central and South America is December 6.

Friday, December 8, is the last date for airmail destined for Greece, Australia and New Zealand, with Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Poland by December 12.

Those posting to Canada, Finland, Sweden and the USA should post items by December 13.

Meanwhile, Austria, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal and Spain should be sent by December 14.

Finally, December 15 is the last posting date for France, Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg.

For friends and family of forces personnel, mail must be sent by no later than December 8 for static BFPOs and November 24 for operational BFPOs. Friends and family can continue to send letters and parcels up to 2kg free of charge to any BFPO address.

The last posting date for sending letters, large letters and packets to the UK delivery is December 21. This is also the last posting dates for local mail and Parcelforce next day and Special Delivery next day guaranteed service.

Special Delivery Saturday guaranteed to the UK, Channel Islands and local delivery is Friday, December 22.