Royal Mail has announced it is to start offering a service on Sundays in response to the growth in demand from online shoppers.

Around 100 of the recently-privatised firm's busiest offices will open on Sundays to enable customers to collect parcels they have not received.

The company will also pilot a Sunday delivery scheme serving addresses within the M25 over the summer. 

Royal Mail's express parcel delivery service, Parcelforce Worldwide, will be available to online shoppers on Sundays through participating e-retailers from June.

"Through these new Sunday services we are exploring ways to improve our flexibility and provide more options for people to receive items they have ordered online," Royal Mail chief executive Moya Greene said.

Royal Mail will also open its distribution network later on a Saturday and on Sundays. The move will enable larger e-retailers to hand items ordered by shoppers on a Saturday afternoon and Sunday to Royal Mail for delivery.