Richmond is getting its first solar-powered "postbox of the future" as Royal Mail rolls out the biggest redesign of its iconic red postboxes in 175 years.

The postbox on Upper Richmond Road West is currently being upgraded and will be operational in the coming weeks, with several more locations across the SW14 area set to follow in the coming months.

The upgrade comes as Royal Mail rapidly expands its parcel infrastructure, with more than 23,500 locations now available across the UK for customers to send, return and collect parcels.

The new design will allow customers to send and return labelled parcels up to the size of a shoebox through a postbox for the first time, addressing the surge in online shopping and returns from second-hand marketplaces.

The modernised postboxes feature a barcode scanner that opens a drop-down drawer for larger parcels that won't fit through the traditional slot.

Notice on new post-box spotted in Richmond (credit: Cesar Medina).

A solar panel powers the scanner and drawer mechanism, while a separate slot remains for letters.

Customers can request proof of posting and track their parcels using the Royal Mail app.

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The tracking feature is also available for smaller parcels posted at any of the UK's 115,000 traditional postboxes.

Royal Mail is installing 3,500 of the upgraded postboxes across the UK following a successful pilot in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire earlier this year.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "Our new postboxes of the future will offer another convenient way for customers in Richmond to access Royal Mail's services, alongside home delivery and collection, our customer service points, post office branches, lockers and Royal Mail shop outlets."

Royal Mail has not yet confirmed the exact number or specific locations of additional postboxes planned for the SW14 area, as these details are still being finalised.