The Royal Mail has been given the go-ahead to scrap the delivery of second-class post on Saturdays by Ofcom.

At the moment, the courier adheres to the current one-price-goes-anywhere principle of the Universal Service Obligation (USO), which means it must deliver post six days a week, from Monday to Saturday.

However, new reforms will allow the firm to stop delivering second-class mail on Saturdays and, instead, deliver it on an alternative mid-week day.

First-class stamps will remain unaffected by this change, with letters using these still being delivered six days a week.

Royal Mail given go-ahead to axe weekend deliveries for second-class stamps

Discussing the change, Natalie Black, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, said: “These changes are in the best interests of consumers and businesses, as urgent reform of the postal service is necessary to give it the best chance of survival.”

“But changing Royal Mail’s obligations alone won’t guarantee a better service – the company now has to play its part and implement this effectively.

Other recent changes mean the company will have to deliver 90% of first-class mail next day, down from the current target of 93%, according to the BBC.

95% of second-class mail must be delivered within three days, a cut from the current 98.5%.

There will also be a new target of 99% of mail being delivered no more than two days late to incentivise Royal Mail to cut down on long delays.

The regulator has said that from July 28, Royal Mail will be allowed to axe the six-day-a-week delivery for second-class stamps.