ED DELIVERS NEW POSTAL OPTIONS

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A Bristol graduate has set up a service to help busy people collect parcels they have ordered.Edward Fraser has launched Parcel Pickup, which takes delivery of mail on the shopper's behalf for collection late into the evening and at weekends.

Mr Fraser believes his business will be popular with people who are away from home when the postman arrives and struggle to pick up their parcels from Royal Mail delivery offices before they close.

When ordering items online or over the telephone, customers ask for their purchases to be delivered to their nearest Parcel Pickup address. The parcel is then stored by the company until the customer picks it up, for a £2 charge.

Mr Fraser is operating in Long Ashton and marketing his service to 36,000 homes in the south-west of the city. But he is aiming to recruit more people willing to act as agents in other areas of Bristol and across the country.

Mr Fraser came up with the idea for a competition while studying for a degree in Creative Product Design at University of the West of England.

He told the Evening Post: "The service can be used to take deliveries from any retailer using any courier service and almost any item purchased.

"Currently it's estimated that 60 per cent of deliveries to domestic locations fail because there isn't anybody in, which is pretty expensive and ineffective for courier companies.

"Over half of all deliveries aren't being made at first attempt and even after a second or third, many still go back to the depot and many end up back at the retailers.

"It costs money and causes people inconvenience, not to mention the environmental impact of all that wasted energy.

"Feedback has been very positive to date because individuals are attracted to the convenience and can also see its potential benefit to the environment.

"In five years' time it's estimated there will be three times the number of parcel deliveries because of increased internet shopping.

"In the future we'll also be appealing to courier companies and retailers to work in partnership with us."

Earlier this year, the Evening Post reported complaints from Bristol residents and councillors about limited opening hours at Royal Mail delivery offices.

Several residents have found themselves unable to pick up their parcels within the depots' hours of operation.

In July, a Bristol city councillor started a petition calling for a Royal Mail delivery office in the city to extend its opening hours.

Tim Kent, Liberal Democrat councillor for Whitchurch Park and a former postman, said the Royal Mail South East Delivery Office in Mead Road - open from 7am until 11.30am - was providing a second class service to customers.

He says not only do customers have to wait two days before they collect a parcel they have missed, but they can only pick them up in the morning.

For more information about Parcel Pickup, visit www.parcelpickup.co.uk, email mail@parcelpickup.co.uk or telephone 01275 543917 or 07887 811604.