As part of a pilot scheme looking at ways to save delivery firm Consignia, homes and businesses in the selected postcodes will only get one delivery a day, with no guarantee that it will be before 9am.

Businesses and individuals that want to receive post before 9am will have to pay a weekly fee of either �5, �10 or �14 if they get fewer than 20 letters a day.

But Roger Nunn told BBC News he was surprised to have received nine letters at 0745 BST "as normal" on Monday after refusing to pay the weekly fee.

It is a cheek to expect us to pay to have it delivered as well as pay to have it sent

Roger Nunn

Mr Nunn runs a business called Wide World Communications from his home in one of the pilot areas, Plymouth in Devon.

He says he now has no idea whether or not first class mail sent to him will arrive on time in future, but is still determined not to pay a fee.

"It is a cheek to expect us to pay to have it delivered as well as pay to have it sent," he said.

Optician Roger Evan-Jones said he should not be affected by the change, as he receives more than 20 letters a day.

Mr Evan-Jones, who is from another of the pilot areas, Llanelli in Wales, told the BBC his post had arrived even earlier than usual on Monday.

'Crazy'

But he added: "I do not see why the receiver should pay on top of the sender.

"They should put the charge on the stamps."

Small business owner David Beardsley, of Plymouth, agrees.

"It is absolutely crazy - we are being asked now to pay twice for the same service," he told BBC News Online.

"They are already paid for delivering the mail, so why not just put a penny on the postage and spread the cost among everyone?

One postman delivering to 100 businesses is far more environmentally friendly than 100 vehicles driving to the sorting office

David Beardsley

"And if they put tuppence on, then maybe they could afford some decent management."

Mr Beardsley receives an average of 10 letters a day - but says he is unwilling to pay the fee because on some days he gets more than twice as many.

"Will I get my money back if I get more than 20?" he asked.

Mr Beardsley, whose website Reduce The Use tells small businesses how to be more environmentally friendly, is also concerned about the impact of customers driving to sorting offices to collect their own mail instead of paying a fee to have it delivered.

"One postman delivering to 100 businesses is far more environmentally friendly than 100 vehicles driving to the sorting office - that just smacks of stupidity," he said.