Is there a shortage of 2nd class stamps as Xmas cards get posted - here's what the Post Office says

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The last posting date for 2nd class is December 20th and the last posting date for 1st class is December 21st

This is a story which takes some licking.

A Post Office branch in Durham has run out of 2nd class stamps - and blamed a national shortage.

Customers at the Newton Hall branch, located inside a Maccolls newsagent, were told about the lack of stamps in a handwritten notice.

But bosses at the Post Office say there is NO national shortage of stamps.

They are now trying to find out why the notice was placed next to the counter.

The notice was spotted by a customer on Monday.

The notice says: “We currently have no stock of 2nd class stamps. This is due to a national problem.

“We are expecting a delivery tomorrow afternoon but stock will be limited.

“Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The note was signed: “The Post Office”.

But claims of a national shortage took bosses at the Post Office and the Royal Mail, which issue stamps to the Post Office, by surprise.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail said: “There is no shortage. There is plenty of availability.

“It may be something at a particular branch.”

She said customers of branches which run out of stamps can order them online.

The Post Office were equally stumped.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “There is absolutely no shortage of second class stamps across the UK.

“There is plenty of stock to meet customer demand, and any branch that finds they are running low can order more to arrive for the following working day.”

The shortage - at least the one at Newton Hall - comes as customers stock up on stamps for Christmas cards.

The spokesperson - who was speaking on behalf of the branch as well as the Post Office generally - said she was trying to get in touch with the branch to find out more but had not been able to get though.

The last posting date for 2nd class is December 20th and the last posting date for 1st class is December 21st.