The cost of 2nd class stamps will rise by 50 percent if plans by Royal Mail get the go-ahead..
Regulator Ofcom has been carrying out a consultation aimed at giving greater commercial freedom to Royal Mail, including handing the firm the power to set the price of first class stamps.
Ofcom said its proposals, announced in October, were aimed at protecting the universal service obligation (USO) under which the Royal Mail has to deliver to any address in the UK for the same price, six days a week..
Consumers have also switched from first to second class mail - now posted in equal numbers - while stamp prices have lagged behind inflation for almost 20 years.
A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "Royal Mail is awaiting the outcome of Ofcom's consultation on its proposals for future regulation of UK postal services before announcing stamp prices for 2012. No final decisions have been made on stamp prices.
