by Rebecca Hughes

The price of stamps has increased today after residents spent the past few weeks stockpiling them, causing some shops across the Towns to run out.

On Friday places including Rochester Post Office, had sold out of second-class stamps after residents bought them in bulk to save before today’s price rise.

A first-class stamp will now cost 60p instead of 46p and a second-class stamp has gone up from 36p to 50p.

Other residents who ordered supplies online were told Royal Mail no longer had any second-class stamps in stock.

Cllr Rupert Turpin, of Purbeck Road, Chatham, ordered 500 second class stamps online on Sunday, April 22, only to be told on Friday that Royal Mail would be refunding his money after running out due the volume of orders.

He said: “I couldn’t believe the Royal Mail had run out of second class stamps. At first I thought it was a joke - it is a bit like BP saying it has run out of oil. I expect better from our national service which bears the royal imprint.”

After being told he would not be receiving the stamps, Mr Turpin visited a local shop where he was able to buy them.

He added: “They need to look after their customers better and not make enemies for a short term gain.

“It is a huge hike for ordinary people and it puts a question mark over whether people will send Christmas cards or emails this year. I certainly will be using fewer stamps in the future.”

But Royal Mail defended its price rise stating the service needs the additional income to keep the six-day postal service, which it said “has been loss making for some time”.

Chief executive Moya Greene said the new prices were “incredible value for money”, and argued that despite the rise, a first-class stamp would still be in the bottom half of most prices in other European countries."

Will your business be affected by the rise in stamp prices? Have you tried to buy stamps and been told they have sold out?

Let us know by leaving you comments below, or call the newsroom on 01634 227803.