NATIONAL courier DPD has announced that it has temporarily suspended next-day deliveries to postcodes in Northwich and Winsford.

The parcel delivery service says it has been forced to do so due to industrial strike action at Royal Mail.

The knock-on effect of this has seen a surge in demand for the services of DPD and other similar firms.

Postcodes, from CW1 to CW12, are all impacted by the one-day delay.

A DPD spokesman said: “We are experiencing short delays to our next-day delivery service in a small number of locations.

“This is as a result of the industrial action at the Royal Mail, which has had a huge knock-on effect across the entire industry.

“As a result of the industrial action, we have seen an increase in demand for our services, as shippers seek alternatives to the Royal Mail in the UK.

“While the service is unaffected in most areas, we have today temporarily suspended next-day deliveries to around five per cent of postcodes in the UK.

“The expected delays of 24 to 48 hours and the postcodes impacted are shown on our website.

“Where delays do occur, we update the parcel recipient directly where our customers have provided us with their contact details.”