Royal Mail missed its first class mail delivery target last year, after it experienced final mile delivery difficulties during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the wintery weather throughout January, February and March.

The operator missed its target to deliver 93% of all first class items the next day, delivering only 91.7% on time.

Figures published last week also revealed that it closed nine mail sort centres and revised delivery methods in over 400 delivery offices in the 2012/3 financial year, as it continued with its modernisation programme ahead of its planned privatisation.

However, it exceeded delivery targets for second class mail and standard retail parcels, with 98.5% and 96.3% delivered in three working days respectively.

MD of operations and modernisation Mark Higson said: “Royal Mail’s postmen and women work extremely hard to deliver to some of the most demanding quality of service standards in Europe. Our modernisation involves substantial changes and we know there are areas where we need to improve our service and we are committed to doing this.”

Royal Mail delivered 1.08 billion parcels during the year ended 31 March 2013, which resulted in a 13% increase in parcel revenue.

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