Morning postal deliveries are killed off by stealth...now we'll have to wait until after midday

Despite fierce opposition to the changes, industry regulator Postcomm failed to make a public statement about its decision to approve the scheme.

The only notification of its stance is a document buried on the watchdog's website.

Under the new regime, which Royal Mail has already started to phase in, 60 per cent of the daily post will be delivered after midday.

Traditionally, post deliveries to homes and businesses started as early as 7.30am, with 94.4 per cent of all mail reaching its destination by midday.

However, the new arrangements, revealed by the Daily Mail in August, will mean that even the first delivery will not start until 10.30am.

Royal Mail has already moved back daily delivery times by up to one hour ahead of Christmas, while the roll-out of the full proposals is expected to take place in the new year.

The organisation claims the changes are necessary because of a new EU green directive which limits the speed of the mail lorries that criss-cross the country during the night to cut fuel emissions. However, the shift is part of a wider costcutting exercise that will slash the workforce by 40,000 and reduce overtime payments.

The watchdog's document reads: "Whilst Postcomm is concerned with the impact later delivery times can have on some postal users, there is not enough evidence to justify a regulatory intervention at the present time."

The decision to abandon traditional delivery times has been criticised by business leaders and consumer body Postwatch, who believe it heralds reduced standards of service.

A Postwatch spokesman said: "This is one of the only industries where things seem to be going backwards.

"We feel that customers are paying more for less of a service. It is disappointing.

"Our own research shows the public value daily deliveries before 12.

"We need to have a healthy and thriving Royal Mail, but not at the expense of poorer services."

The group suggested Royal Mail's changes will "ultimately leave customers with a diminished service".

It added: "It is extremely unclear how customers would benefit from this initiative; it would seem that it only benefits Royal Mail."

Natalie Evans, head of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, also condemned the move, saying: "Business needs and deserves a reliable postal service. Sadly it is not getting one.

"Businesses have made it very clear that they want post delivered at the start of every working day and collected at the end of every working day."

A Royal Mail spokesman said that the organisation had tried to move collection times from some post boxes to later in the day in order to improve services.

Postal workers have overwhelmingly backed a deal on pay and conditions, ending their long-running dispute.

The Communication Workers Union said its members voted by 64 per cent in favour of an agreement and will now receive a pay rise of 6.9 per cent over two years.

Postal workers across the country were involved in a number of strikes this summer, which crippled deliveries.