To add insult to injury, those who have been left inconvenienced by the current postal strike have little or no chance of receiving compensation from the Royal Mail.

The public are entitled to a book of six first-class stamps worth £2.34 if their letter is lost or delayed by more than three days.

However, consumer groups have warned that the Royal Mail has made it almost impossible for people to access the compensation, despite the fact that millions of letters are currently stuck in sorting offices across the country.

In order to get their compensation, people must prove that their letter is lost with a certificate of posting which must be filled in when the letter is being sent, stating where it is going.

It isn't just the general public which has been left short-changed by the situation as the Royal Mail has been given special dispensation by the postal regulator to avoid paying compensation to businesses.