The Post Office has issued details of its services over the festive period.

The last posting date for sending letters, large letters and packets to the UK via first class mail (no delivery date guarantee) is December 20.

This is also the last posting date for Special Delivery Saturday Guarantee (for delivery on December 21).

Special delivery deadline for delivery in the UK on Christmas Eve is the day before.

For last recommended posting dates to international destinations customers should refer to www.iompost.com/christmas

’We would like to advise all customers to post their items as early as possible to avoid any disappointments on Christmas Day,’ a spokesman said.

The Post Office asked customers to make sure any items being sent are safe to fly this Christmas.

’Many everyday items are classified as prohibited or restricted under transport legislation therefore some cannot be flown,’ a spokesman said.

Advice can be given in post offices and on the Post Office’s website.

For friends and family of HM Forces personnel, mail must be sent by no later than Friday, December 13.

Post offices will be open as normal in the lead up to Christmas.

Some branches will be operating extended opening hours over the festive period but on Christmas Eve most will close early and Post Office headquarters will close at 3pm.

payments

During the festive period the Department of Health and Social Care has advised of the early payment of pensions and allowances.

Friday, December 20, is double pension day and early pension payments for Friday, December 27, will be available.

Allowances due for payment on December 24, December 25 and December 26 can be collected on December 23 and allowances due on January 1 may be collected on December 31.

Customers who miss their parcel delivery can use the Post Office’s online redelivery request service to arrange delivery of their item on a more convenient day.

To avoid missing any deliveries altogether, customers can sign up for the Post Office’s free Safe Place service.

This means if you are not at home when the post person delivers a package, it can be left in a designated Safe Place as nominated by the customer.

This Christmas Isle of Man Post Office continue to offer a free reply service for all the children who write letters to Father Christmas.

Father Christmas will try to respond to each and every letter so these should be sent as soon as possible in an envelope with a first class stamp, so it reaches Father Christmas in Lapland quickly.

Letters without a stamp will not reach Lapland.

Letters to Father Christmas should be arrive no later than December 13.

To ensure children are not disappointed, all letters should also include a return address, so Father Christmas knows who to send a reply to.