POST offices have reported a stamp-ede as customers stock up ahead of a price hike.

The price of a first class stamp will rise from 46p to 60p, with second class stamps going up from 36p to 50p on April 30.

David Evison, sub-postmaster at Lighters newsagent in Highwoods Square, Colchester, said one man bought 1,500 second class stamps, costing £540.

Mr Evison said: “We ran out of second class stamp books so, from today, we are restricting customers to buying ten second class stamps at a time.”

However, Mr Evison said sales of first class stamps had been far more modest.

Alan Buck, sub-postmaster of Wivenhoe Post Office, said: “We have certainly seen an increase in people buying stamps. It has probably doubled.

“It is mainly second class stamps people are buying.

“We have had some people buying 200 to 300 at a time. We have received no guidelines saying not to sell an unlimited number of stamps to people.”

The post office at Great Totham Village Stores ran out of books of second class stamps within four days of them being delivered.

Paulette Smith, clerk, said: “People saw it on the news and then there was the mad rush.

“I have been here ten years and it’s normally only a four or five pence rise. Royal Mail is going to lose millions over it.”

The announcement of the price rises came after the regulator Ofcom lifted some price controls on Royal Mail. The 30 per cent price rise in first-class stamps and 39 per cent rise for second class marks the biggest annual increase in percentage terms since 1975.

Ten years ago a first class stamp cost 27p and a second-class 19p.