Financial results for the half-year ending September 27th have been posted by Royal Mail, with the firm revealing an increase in parcel volumes for the period. 

Volumes were up by four per cent, driven by a combination of new customers and initiatives in account parcels, in addition to growth in some areas of imports and strong volume growth in Parcelforce. 

However, addressed letter volumes fell by four per cent excluding election ballots, although this is at the more positive end of a forecast four to six per cent decline year-on-year. 

Royal Mail chief executive officer Moya Greene described this performance as resilient overall, emphasising the fact that her organisation remains the foremost carrier of letters and parcels in the UK.

"As in previous years, the full-year outcome will be dependent on our important Christmas period, for which we have extensive preparations in place," she commented.