Postal operator Royal Mail, which has been delivering mail for over 500 years, announced plans Wednesday to start collecting parcels from homes throughout the UK in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. "The new service -- Parcel Collect -- means postmen and postwomen will now be able to collect parcels as well as deliver them on their daily round," Royal Mail said in a statement. "It is one of the biggest changes to the daily delivery since the launch of the postbox in 1852," it added. Former state-run Royal Mail has experienced a surge in parcel deliveries as Covid-19 fuels online shopping. Parcel Collect will pick up a maximum of five packages per address, avoiding the need for a post office visit. Each item is picked up for 72 pence (94 US cents, 79 euro cents), in addition to postage costs. The new service will also collect pre-paid return items for 60 pence each. The nationwide launch follows an initial roll-out of Parcel Collect in western England. Royal Mail employees have enjoyed elevated status during the pandemic thanks to their key role in delivering virus test kits and helping businesses survive the economic fallout. The company also stepped in to help the likes of Amazon fulfil its deliveries during Britain's nationwide lockdown for around three months to late June. Royal Mail is however facing a slump in its core letters business as many prefer the immediacy of emails and text messages. rfj/bcp/bmm