Only 54.2 per cent of first-class deliveries in the Outer Hebrides are received within one day, new figures reveal.

And it is a similar picture across the Highlands and Islands generally, with Orkney and Shetland faring badly on 53.9 per cent and 31.7 per cent, respectively.

The target during the reporting period was 93 per cent, but this has not been achieved in a decade, and has struggled to go over 82 per cent since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, all three island groups are exempt from the first-class targets “due to remoteness and logistical demands”. 

The Royal Mail figures also reveal a stark contrast between the islands and adjacent postcode areas, with Inverness hitting 77.9% first-class delivery and the mainland parts of the KIrkwall post code area enjoying 80.2% first-class delivery.

There are now calls for the UK government and Ofcom to investigate the now privatised Royal Mail’s performance.

The first-class target was lowered from 93 to 90 per cent effective on April 1 this year.

While the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland are exempt from the first class targets, the second-class delivery targets still apply.

In recent years, the Royal Mail has been fined over £37 million for failing to meet delivery targets.

They have responded by committing £500 million over five years to improve service performance, with a pledged return to meeting regulated targets by April 2027.