Amazon to deliver parcels using Royal Mail branches

Deal comes after Royal Mail warned Amazon's delivery service was eating into its parcel business

Royal Mail confirmed Sarfo briefly worked for them as a postman in 2010

Amazon customers will be able to collect parcels from post office branches after the online retailer announced it had signed up for Royal Mail's local collect service ahead of Christmas.

The service gives Amazon customers access to 10,500 post office branches across the country, meaning they can now pick up their parcels from a total of 16,000 collection points.

Nick Landon, Managing Director of Royal Mail Parcels, said: “Royal Mail is a key partner for online retailers and by teaming up with Post Office to offer the UK’s largest click and collect service, we are enabling Amazon’s customers to have greater control over the delivery of their items.”

The deal comes just days after after Royal Mail warned the online retailer's next day delivery network was eating into its parcel business growth and hurting profits.

Last week, Royal Mail reported UK parcel revenues fell 1 per cent to £1.5 billion in the last six months, while operating profit slumped 21 per cent to £279 million.

"Clearly the reasoning behind this must be Royal Mail trying to save some of its business," said Nicla Di Palma, an analyst at Brewin Dolphin, in a note to clients.