Postal breakthrough

After 475 years and the invention of the postage stamp and pillar boxes, Britain's Royal Mail has come up with a new idea: letting people collect parcels outside office hours.

From today more than 200 delivery offices were to open until 8pm on a Wednesday so those at work who missed deliveries could collect them.

Royal Mail says 650 offices will open until 8pm on Wednesday and 2pm on Saturdays by the end of the UK summer.