THE Danish state-run postal service is to end all letter deliveries at the end of the year, it was announced on Thursday.

Around 1,500 workers are set to lose their jobs out of a workforce of 4,600.

PostNord said the decision, which ends 400 years of a letter delivery service, was made because of a 90 per cent decline in letter volumes since the beginning of the century.

Employees Anders Raun Mikkelsen told Danish broadcaster DR: “It’s a super sad day. Not just for our department, but for the 1,500 who face an uncertain future.”

Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen said Danes would still be able to send and receive letters as “there is a free market for both letters and parcels.”

Danish MP Pelle Dragsted blamed privatisation for the slashing of the service and complained it would particularly disadvantage people in remote areas.

PostNord says it plans to shift its focus to parcel deliveries and that any postage stamps purchased during 2024 or this year can be refunded for a limited period into 2026.

Postal services in other parts of Europe are also under pressure. Germany’s Deutsche Post said on Thursday that it was planning to axe around 8,000 of its 187,000 employees.

Staff unions in Germany say they fear more cuts are likely to follow.