Today is the last day you can send out anything by second class post, if you want it to arrive by 25 December, and for international mail the deadline has now passed for sending most things to arrive by Christmas.

Workers at Royal Mail have held several walkouts already this year and have more planned in the run-up to Christmas and the new year.

Members of the the Communication Workers Union (CWU) are striking over pay and conditions, and join a long list of employees across different organisations who have voted for strike action.

There’s also nurses, NHS workers, teachers in Scotland, civil servants and firefighters who are voting for, or who have agreed upon, strike action, as we list in our guide to all of the strikes happening right now.

On the Royal Mail website, it has published a list of the last posting days before Christmas, but these could change.

There are currently planned walkouts for Royal Mail staff on the 14, 15 and 24 December.

Last dates for posting before Christmas

Below we’ve listed the last day to send items, if you want them to arrive before the 25th, which is on a Sunday this year.

• Monday 12 December: 2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For, Royal Mail 48®
• Friday 16 December: 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail 24®, Royal Mail Tracked 48®
• Monday 19 December: Royal Mail Tracked 24®
• Wednesday 21 December: Special Delivery Guaranteed®

The last date for posting internationally for items to arrive before the 25th has now passed. However, if you’re posting using an international tracking service to Belgium, France, Luxembourg today is your last day to do so.

There are a range of other postal services you could try if you need something to arrive before Christmas such as Evri, Parcelforce  or DWP. Just make sure to compare the prices as these can vary a lot between private companies.