While the quantity of letters sent is falling, the number of parcels being mailed is growing due to the rapid spread of online shopping and sites like eBay.

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In the last 12 months, the number of food parcels issued by Trussell Trust centres overall has reached almost 300, 000 - more than double the year before.

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The reason behind the changes, it said, was that the number of letters sent was in decline while the volume of heavier parcels was on the rise.

BBC: trolley