Royal Mail asks to cut deliveries on weekend

Royal Mail has asked the government for an early move to cut its letter service to five days a week as it unveiled hefty losses after a hit from crippling strike action.

Boss Simon Thompson vowed to do “whatever it takes” to turn the group around after half-year results showed it tumbled to a £219 million underlying operating loss in the 26 weeks to

September 25 against earnings of £235m a year ago.

The group said strike action this year cost it around £100m.

It has formally asked the government to switch from a six-days-a-week letter delivery service to Monday to Friday under its universal service agreement, but will look to maintain a seven-day parcel delivery service.