Royal Mail 'failing users'

The £500,000-a-year head of the Royal Mail today admitted Britain's much criticised postal service was "falling short" of public expectations.

Chief executive Adam Crozier apologised for huge disruption caused in some parts of the country by strikes and a move to a single daily delivery.

On Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Crozier said: "We have to get the situation sorted as quickly as possible."

He said the move to a single delivery, designed to save £350million a year, was the biggest change to Britain's postal services for half a century. He added: "Where it has been bedded in, it is working extremely well."

The disruption, combined with the effect of last autumn's wildcat action in the South-East, meant only 90 per cent of First Class letters were delivered on time last year compared with a target of 92.5 per cent.