The organisation that represents sub-postmasters has said that claims from Labour that Royal Mail is "profiteering at the public's expense" by limiting the supply of stamps to post offices are "absolutely without foundation".

The general secretary of the National Federation of sub-Postmasters, George Thomson, told the Today programme's Justin Webb that there is not a stamp shortage despite many customers stockpiling stamps before prices rise by up to 39% at the end of the month.

He said that "it's almost like Christmas" but while he could not give assurances that stamps would not run out, he said postmasters are not raising any issues about getting stamps from Royal Mail.

Mr Thomson went on to say that Royal Mail lost £120m last year on delivering letters and this is the reason behind the price hike of stamps.

He said the increases were "absolutely necessary if we want delivery and collection twice a week".

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