In case you missed this news, the Post Office has announced it is changing the design of the stamp - putting in a bar code for a new postal service.

So if you have 'ordinary' stamps you will need to exchange them - but you have a year to do so.

The Post Office explained: " We are adding unique barcodes to stamps to pave the way for innovative services for our customers and to enhance the security of the postal service.

"We are encouraging customers to find and use-up any non-barcoded stamps before 31 January 2023. However, if customers are unable to use them up by then, we will exchange them for barcoded stamps completely free of charge."

The 'Swap Out' scheme will open on 31 March 2022. Customers will be able to print out a form from the website, or pick one up from their local Delivery Office's Customer Service Point.

But the office is keen to stress that there is no need to panic right now.

Adding : " More details about our 'Swap Out' scheme will be announced soon, but in the meantime please be assured that all existing stamps remain valid for postage in the usual way."