A "LARGE number" of postboxes on the Isle of Wight are not now being emptied after 9am, and even earlier on Saturday, Royal Mail has revealed.

The postal firm argues fewer letters are being sent and usage in certain areas has dropped.

It was not able to tell the Isle of Wight County Press how many postboxes on the Island would be affected by the change.

It says the overall number of letters has fallen by 50 per cent since 2004.

On March 23, the price of a first-class stamp will rise by 6p to 76p.

A second class stamp will cost 65p, up 4p.

Read more: Royal Mail to increase price of stamps next month

A spokesperson said: “Royal Mail is introducing more collections on delivery on the Isle of Wight.

"This means more postmen and postwomen will collect mail from postboxes while they are doing their daily round.

"Since 2014, postmen and women have been collecting mail from some postboxes while on their rounds.

"More than half of Royal Mail postboxes now have mail collected by delivery colleagues."

Isle of Wight County Press reader Malcolm Watson has already noticed the change on the postbox at the junction of Simeon and Monkton streets in Ryde.

A sign warns customers that while the last collection time will be at 9am during the week, Saturday's last collection will be at 7am.

Mr Watson is urging concerned Islanders to contact Royal Mail and wrote: "We now need to post our mail the day before it is collected, while paying more for it. Perhaps the collection will be restored if enough of us make a fuss."