ROYAL Mail has announced it is hitting record levels of service in its south west region, achieving an all-time high in First Class mail delivery.

Independently produced figures show that over a 12-month period to April 2006, all 16 South West postcode areas surpassed their 91.5 per cent local target for first class mail to be delivered the next working day.

Royal Mail's Michael Dalton, said: "These are fantastic results, the best ever, and ahead of the targets set by the regulator. "This level of performance shows that Royal Mail is determined to compete for business by offering customers the very best service at a value for money price. "Rivals will find our standards difficult to match. Royal Mail's postmen and women have done a first class job."