As Christmas approaches, Royal Mail research suggests over 20 per cent of us leave our online Christmas shopping until December before getting started.

Here are some tips for readers to help them plan for the last minute rush to be ready for Christmas.

Order early, post early and use the postcode. Ordering early means that you have time to return Christmas presents if they are not quite right and order new ones. Posting early for Christmas will enable people to enjoy their Christmas cards for longer and helps Royal Mail spread the workload at its busiest time. Royal Mail’s postcode finder can help you locate address details for long lost cousins. Using the postcode also helps Royal Mail sort the cards and letters by machine rather than by hand.

Don’t forget latest recommended posting dates - see www.royalmail.com/Christmas2014 for full details December 18 – Second Class December 20 – First Class December 23 – Special Delivery Guaranteed International last posting dates: December 9 – Canada, Poland December 12 – USA Stay local Amazon is offering its online customers access to Royal Mail’s Local Collect ‘click and collect’ network. Online shoppers can now choose to get their parcels delivered to over 10,500 Post Office branches throughout the UK Make use of more flexible collections. Don’t forget that Royal Mail delivery offices all over the UK are open longer throughout December. Details will be on the Something for You card you receive if you are not at home when we try to deliver an item that requires a signature or is too large to go through the letterbox.

All wrapped up: When sending fragile items, make sure you pack them carefully, providing adequate protection for your important items.

Geoff Braden, Operations Director, Royal Mail Wales and West