More Than 80,000 Apply For Xmas Mail Jobs

The Royal Mail has received more than 80,000 applications for 18,000 seasonal Christmas jobs - thousands more than last year, figures have showed.

The postal group said it was delighted with the strong response to fill the temporary positions, which support the 130,000 full-time postmen and women at their busiest time of year.

The number of applications is 10,000 more than last year.

But the Royal Mail said it was still looking for more seasonal workers in areas including Watford, Peterborough, Bristol, Edinburgh, Swansea and Northampton.

Mark Higson, Royal Mail's managing director of operations and modernisation, said: "More seasonal recruits are required in some areas.

"We look forward to receiving applications from people who want to earn some extra money and help us sort the Christmas mailbag of around two billion items."

Seasonal jobs will be available between mid November and early January 2012.

Royal Mail is recruiting around 1,000 people in London, 1,500 each in the North West and Anglia, 2,000 in the South East, South West, Thames Valley and the North East, 3,000 in the Midlands, around 2,000 people in Scotland, 1,000 in Wales and 400 in Northern Ireland.

Employment minister Chris Grayling said: "Now is a great time to apply for one of the tens of thousands of Christmas jobs which are being advertised.

"Temporary work gives you an idea of the kind of career you might want, looks good on your CV and also gives you something to talk about in job interviews.

"It can even lead to more permanent employment."