If you have a stash of stamps tucked away, now is the time to use them up before they finally become worthless at the end of next month.
Everyday stamps that feature a profile of the late Queen's head - so-called 'definitive stamps' - are being phased out after the original deadline of January 31 was extended to July 31 by Royal Mail in recognition of customers needing more time to adjust to the change.
From August 1, you can only use barcoded stamps and Royal Mail will treat any post sent with non-barcoded stamps on as having insufficient postage, so the person you're sending the letter or parcel to will face an additional charge to receive it. Royal Mail says that full details of this charge will be issued nearer the deadline.
