Royal Mail has announced stamp prices will rise again in April in what has been described as “yet another blow to consumers”. From April 7, the cost of a first-class stamp will climb to £1.70, a 5p increase, while second-class stamps will be 87p, a 2p rise, marking the sixth price hike in three years.

The cost of a first-class stamp will rise by 5p to £1.70 on 7 April, Royal Mail has announced. It will also raise the price of a second-class stamp by 2p to 87p on the same day. The company said the decision carefully considered "balancing affordability with the increasing cost of delivering mail".

International Distribution Services, the owner of Royal Mail, also announced that the price of second class stamps will rise by 2p or 2.4 per cent to 87p.