POST in Southampton was delivered on time thanks to Royal Mail delivering a target-beating performance throughout most of last year, latest figures reveal.

Ninety-four per cent of first class mail sent in the SO postcode arrived at its destination the day after posting between April and December last year.

Other targets were also beaten such as the delivery of parcels and of second class mail.

A Royal Mail spokesman said the recent performance was delivered as the company continues down one of the biggest modernisation programmes anywhere in UK industry. New technology and better equipment is being deployed nationwide and the working practices of staff are changing.

Mike Devanny, Royal Mail delivery director, said: “We are pleased that we are continuing to deliver high quality service to our customers in the SO postcode area. Our postmen and women work extremely hard to deliver to some of the most demanding quality of service standards in the whole of Europe.”