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TNT reveals that it has received 20,000 additional calls from businesses in the wake of the ongoing Royal Mail strikes by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), as parcel companies and couriers across the country benefit from the industrial action.

A TNT spokesman says its call centres had "received 20,000 more calls than normal in the two weeks running up to the first  strike".

TNT has also reported a 10% rise in business.

Guy Buswell, chief executive of Business Post, also confirmed the company has experienced a 10% to 15% increase in work due to the strikes.

Although Royal Mail vowed to keep mail moving during the industrial action, customers such as Amazon are seeking alternatives. The courier market is also seeing an upturn in work as businesses try to get essential documents and letters through to their customers. Couriers wanting help to reach their customers during the strike can register with the free mapping service - Postal  Options - from Roadtransport.com

Chris Watts, owner of CWS Courier Services in Newport, South Wales, says there has been a 25% rise in business.

He adds: "I have seen an increase in letters from solicitors and large companies who want the delivery of its accounts on the same day. There has been hundreds of enquires over the phone for quotes; the phone hasn't stopped ringing."

Watts, who runs two vehicles and has brought in other couriers for the extra work, continues: "The strikes will affect the Royal Mail on the same-day side of things because it is the most expensive in the market. People are going to smaller companies and realising they were paying over the odds for the same-day service with Royal Mail."

Kevin Arrow, owner of Arrow Light Haulage, based in Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex, is getting five to eight calls a day, of which 50% turn into genuine work.

In some cases, major parcel firms have had to sub-contract work in localised areas in order to help meet the extra demand.

For example, 747 Express Freight, based in Winsford, Cheshire, is running out of a major parcel hub delivering to its local postcode area, and charging by the day rather than by the shipment.

Steve Blackie, managing director of the firm, says some work has been more specific.

He adds: "In some cases, a company might send a parcel with Royal Mail for £3; they have to pay £8-£10 to go with a major parcel carrier, then we get the parcel and charge £160 to deliver it.

"So the customer is paying 50 times more to get it there next day. We have done about half-a-dozen of these."