December is undoubtedly Royal Mail's busiest month, with households nationwide sending national and international post ahead of Christmas.

Day-to-day services remain in operation for everyday posts delivered by Royal Mail, though sometimes this can be disrupted.

While the postal service says delivery and collection services will occur across the UK today, Tuesday, December 17, the road network and mail centres have experienced some disruption.

Royal Mail has named 13 postcodes in four major regions across England that may experience delays to their post.

In an update on its website, the postal service said: "Technical issues at our Princess Royal Distribution Centre (London) last night delayed the processing and departure of some mail posted in other parts of the UK."

This disruption meant that mail was transferred to contingency services, and as a result, Royal Mail says some mail due for delivery today in the southeast of England "may arrive later than expected".

Issues in mail centres were also reported in four areas: Chester, Home Counties North, Nottingham and Peterborough.

A service update read: "Not all mail was processed or despatched to schedule over the past 24 hours. As a result, some mail may be delivered later than planned."

Local issues affecting operations in delivery offices may also affect dozens of other postcodes across the UK. Royal Mail has apologised for the "inconvenience" caused by local factors such as high levels of sick absence and resourcing.

Postcodes impacted by delivery issues today include:

• Abercarn DO (NP11)
• Abingdon DO (OX13 and OX14)
• Alfreton DO (DE55)
• Armagh DO (BT60, BT61, BT68 and BT69)
• Burnham On Sea DO (TA8 and TA9)
• Canterbury DO (CT1-CT6) 
• Carterton DO (OX18)
• Clevedon DO (BS21 and BS49)
• Clogher SPDO (BT70, BT75 - BT77)
• Gosport DO (PO12 and PO13)
• Kingswood DO (BS15 and BS30)
• Lanark DO (ML8 and ML11)
• Orton Southgate DO (PE2, PE7 - PE9)
• Oxford East DO (OX3, OX4, OX33, OX44 and OX49)
• Porthcawl DO (CF36)
• Portsmouth DO (PO1 – PO6)
• Sandhurst DO (GU46 and GU47)
• Wallingford DO (OX10 and OX49)
• Waterlooville DO (PO7 and PO8)
• Weston-super-Mare DO (BS22 - BS24)
• Woodbridge DO (IP12 and IP13)