DUDLEY is failing to meet targets for next day deliveries of first class mail, according to Royal Mail performance figures.

The borough has been named one of the 20 worst postcode areas for getting first class post to its destination by the next working day.

Dudley occupies the number 19 slot, delivering 83.4 per cent of its first class post within a day - according to the figures, which show a substantial decline compared to the previous year.

Twickenham has been named the best place to post a letter to ensure it gets to its recipient by next day delivery; 89.9 per cent of its first class mail to gets to where it's supposed to in time, while Stoke-on-Trent has been named the worst offender - delivering only 79.4 per cent of its first class mail by the next day.

The target is 93 per cent.

Najma Hafeez, chairman of Postwatch Midlands, said: "Royal Mail's recovery was severely blown off course by last summer's strikes. Figures confirm customers received poor levels of service.

"Because of strike action, customers for most of last summer could not post with any confidence. Customer expectations were not met.

"Royal Mail's management team should focus on providing what customers want and need from them."