ROYAL Mail is gearing up to deliver an expected Christmas mailbag of about 195 million items across the North West.

About 13,400 Royal Mail postal staff, supported by an extra 1,760 seasonal workers, will be working round the clock to collect, sort and deliver Christmas cards, letters and parcels to more than 3.2 million addresses in the region.

The Christmas operation will involve an additional 239 vehicles on top of the normal 2,900-strong transport fleet in the region.

There are also more than 10,000 postboxes in the North West to post Christmas cards.

But people are being asked to make sure they post cards and presents early.

The last posting dates for this Christmas are December 17 for second class mail, December 20 for first class and December 22 for special delivery.

For more information visit royalmail.com or call 08457 740 740.