The price of stamps on the Island is to increase.

From the end of April, the cost of sending a local letter will rise by a penny, while the price of letters to the UK will go up by three pence.

From April 30, a stamp for a standard local letter will go up by 1p to 38 pence, whilst a stamp to send mail to the UK will increase by 3p to 41 pence.

There'll also be cost changes for licensed services, including next-day special delivery, recorded post and parcelforce.

Isle of Man Post says the new prices reflect growing commercial costs, although stress its prices remain amongst the lowest in Europe.

Chairman Geoff Corkish says price increases in the current economic climate are inevitable but it was important to maintain a six day delivery service.

In the Channel Islands it’s been recently reduced to five days a week.

There’s good news for family of British Forces personnel – they’ll still be able to send parcels weighing up to two kilograms for free.