UPS has launched a new click and collect service across 600 locations in the UK.

The new service, called UPS Access Point, will allow online retail customers to collect and return their parcels at locations such as petrol stations and newsagents.

Access Point will also allow high street retailers to use their stores as collection points for items purchased on their websites.

UPS began offering the service on the Continent in February 2012 after it acquired Kiala, a Belgium-based firm with more than 6,500 retail locations across western Europe.

By June UPS plans to have a network of 1,500 Access Points in the UK.

UPS Europe vice president of strategy Joe Mozzali said: “UPS Access Point will also offer industry leading cross-border services.

"All this will help to increase convenience and quality of service for consumers, which as been identified as a key objective by the European Commission in its Green Paper on the role of parcel services in e-commerce growth in the EU.”