Jo praises Bearsden & Milngavie Christmas Post operation

10.13.00am GMT Mon 4th Dec 2006

Jo is encouraging her constituents to get their Christmas posting done early

Jo Swinson has paid tribute to staff at the Royal Mail's Bearsden Delivery Office, during a visit to see the festive post operation in full swing.

Touring the delivery office this morning, Jo met the postmen and women who are working hard to sort and deliver Bearsden and Milngavie's share of the estimated total Scottish Christmas postbag of 250 million items.

Commenting on the visit, Jo said:

"The grand scale of the Christmas post operation becomes clear the moment you step into the sorting office. In the Bearsden office, 42 members of staff will work tirelessly to sort and deliver over 300,000 items per week between now and Christmas day.

"We have all rushed to get our last minute Christmas posting done, but having met the Royal Mail staff charged with sorting and delivering Bearsden and Milngavie's Christmas mailbag, I will be more punctual with my posting this year!"

Kim Riddoch, Delivery Manager, said:

"Christmas is our busiest time of year, when all the Royal Mail staff involved go the extra mile to ensure that mail reaches its destination promptly. We are pleased that Jo Swinson could come along to Royal Mail to see first hand the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

"As usual, we urge customers to note the recommended last UK posting dates - 19th December for First Class and 16th December for Second Class - to ensure that their Christmas greetings and gifts arrive in time for the big day!"

ROYAL MAIL: ESSENTIAL CHRISTMAS INFORMATION

• Recommended UK last posting dates

o Special delivery - Thursday 21st December

o First Class - Tuesday, 19th December

o Second Class - Saturday, 16th December

• Letters to Santa should be stamped and posted by Tuesday, December 13, addressed to Santa, Reindeerland, SAN TA1. Those letters that include a name and return address and are posted by December 13th, will receive a reply from Santa.

• The 2006 Christmas mailbag is expected to be around 2 billion items.

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Royal Mail