AROUND two billion items are expected in the Christmas mailbag this year.

Royal Mail has posted the following last posting dates to ensure your yuletide missive doesn't get delayed.

First class mail: Tuesday, December 19.

Second class mail: Saturday, December 16.

Special delivery: Thursday, December 21.

Standard parcels: Wednesday, December 13.

Airmail: Western Europe - Wednesday, December 13; Eastern Europe, Canada, USA, Japan - Monday, December 11; rest of the world - Friday, December 8.

Letters to Santa should be stamped and posted to: Santa, Reindeerland, SAN TA1. Santa and his helpers try hard to reply to all letters that include a return address and arrive by Wednesday, December 13.