IF YOU'RE sending presents far and wide this Christmas, you'll want to make sure they arrive in time. 

Royal Mail has announced its recommended dates for getting presents to doorsteps on time. 

The first international recommended posting date is for mail to Africa and the Middle East, which should be sent by Saturday 2 December.

For those wanting to send cards or gifts to the United States and Canada, the last recommended posting date is Thursday 14 December.

For The Republic of Ireland and France, mail should be sent by Saturday December 16.

Those wishing to send festive greetings to friends and family in Australia or New Zealand will need to make sure everything is good to go by Saturday 9 December.

Letters and parcels to the Denmark, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland can be posted up to Friday 15 December to arrive in time for Christmas.

The last posting dates apply to both standard international services and those which have tracking and signature.

Somerset County Gazette:

UK latest recommended posting dates for Christmas 2017 are:

• Wednesday 20 December for Second Class mail

• Thursday 21 December for First Class mail

• Thursday 21 December for Special Delivery

• Friday 22 December for Special Delivery Saturday Guaranteed