Stamps: Check yours NOW as Royal Mail deadline for old design fast approaching

The Royal Mail is warning Britons to use up old stamps or swap them for new ones.

Newly designed stamps have an added barcode which connects to the Royal Mail app.

After January 31, old stamps that feature the profile of Her Late Majesty The Queen on a plain coloured background without a barcode will no longer be valid.

Stamps with pictures and Christmas stamps without a barcode will continue to be valid.

Non-barcoded regular stamps can be exchanged for the new version through the stamp swap out scheme.

Those wanting to swap up to £200 worth of stamps need to complete a Stamp Swap Out form which can be printed.

The form and stamps can be sent free of charge by writing Freepost SWAP OUT on an envelope – no other address details or postcode are required.

Anyone planning to swap more than £200 worth of stamps should complete the Bulk Stamp Swap Out form and send it along with the non-barcoded stamps via a secure service with suitable cover.

This can be sent to Royal Mail, Swap Out, Tallents House, 21 South Gyle Crescent, EDINBURGH, EH12 9PB

Those who do not have access to a printer can request a Stamp Swap Out form to be posted by completing a form online.

'Stamp Swap Out' forms – up to £200 only - are also available from the Customer Service Point at local Delivery Offices.

The Royal Mail Customer Experience Team can also be contacted on 03457 740740.