Customers wanting to send a parcel to France may want to look at an international courier such as Parcel2go, as the French national post operator pledges to increase its charges.

From July 1st this year, La Poste say they will raise the cost of its service at a typical rate of 1.6 per cent.

The rise was given the thumbs-up by the French postal service regulator Arcep.

La Poste claim the rise correlates to the price cap in place over their universal provisions for the 2009 to 2011 period.

May 28th in Paris, heralds the occasion of the Fête des Voisins, a street-party which sees the apartment blocks of the capital come together for annual celebrations.

Customers who know ex-pats living in Paris could send some traditional food and drink, and add an English flavour to festivities.