HOUSEHOLDERS in Thirsk can expect a later post delivery than usual from next month.

The Thirsk delivery office has been chosen as one of 14 offices in the UK to pilot the Royal Mail's new national delivery scheme. The scheme starts on Monday, August 5 and will cover the postcode area YO7.

Under the scheme, those customers who normally receive large amounts of mail (more than 20 items daily) will continue to receive a delivery before 9am, but the majority of other customers will receive their post between 9am and lunchtime.

Businesses will still get their mail before 9am each day but there will be no second delivery to either homes or businesses.

The pilot scheme, announced in June, is part of holding company Consignia's three-year plan to return to profitability.

The pilots precede a planned national roll-out later in the year. These new arrangements will reduce delivery costs by providing a single delivery, six days a week.

Customers whose deliveries might be affected will be contacted before the pilot is introduced. To help with its smooth introduction, changes will be made on a phased basis and customers will be notified before their phase starts.

Royal Mail is developing a range of new delivery products and services for customers receiving lower volumes of mail who still wish to receive an early morning delivery.

These products are designed to offer greater choice and enable Royal Mail to tailor services closely to customer needs and lifestyles. In the pilot areas, customers can opt for early delivery between 7am and 9am, but the price for this Start Time service, will be around £14 per week.

Alternatively, customers will be able to collect their own mail from the delivery office by arrangement, from 8.30am, free-of-charge.

The new scheme will see a reduction in Royal Mail jobs. Nationally, 17,000 jobs will become redundant over three years, but no local forecasts are yet available.

Thirsk Town Mayor Coun Andrew Robinson said: "This is a trial period and we will have to see what happens and if there are any problems.

"We have to accept that Royal Mail needs to make the service profitable. I'm sure if there are problems they will be sorted out eventually."