HOW much does it cost to post a letter? A simple enough question, you might think - or is it?

Following the introduction of Royal Mail's new Pricing in Proportion (PIP) system, critics say that Post Offices could grind to a halt as heavy queues of confused customers waiting to ask staff what to do build up.

Royal Mail says the first day of the new system has gone well and that many items may now be cheaper to send than previously.

Leaflets have been sent out to every household in the UK explaining the new system, which introduced postal charges based on size rather than weight from Monday.

But many customers say they have failed to receive the literature and find the new rules "confusing".

When asked how much it now costs to send a standard letter most people leaving Bournemouth's general post office seemed flummoxed by the question.

And others said that they were so confused that they would avoid sending large birthday cards through the post or try to cram objects into very small parcels.

Under PIP, the price of an average first class letter will be 32p but if its length exceeds 240mm, its width 165mm or its thickness 5mm, it will be classed as a large letter.

This will cost 44p to post if it weighs less than 100g.

Anything more than 353mm long or 250mm wide or 25mm thick will be considered to be a packet and will cost between £1 and £4.74 depending on its weight.

Mike Peden, branch manager of Bournemouth GPO, said that so far the new system had gone "very smoothly".

He added: "Once you get behind the counter it's pretty straightforward. We've had no complaints from customers."

Outside the Post Office people seemed unenthusiastic.

Madge Smith, 78, on holiday from Doncaster with husband George said it would be chaos on pension day.

She said: "If people have got to go to the counter and stand and wait for a letter to be measured before it can be sent then on a Monday morning when we are picking up our pensions it's going to play merry hell."

Mr Smith said: "I think it's going to cause some confusion."

Jenny and Graham Wragg, who divide their time between Poole and Leicestershire where they run a textile business, said they still had lots of first class stamps to use up.

Mr Wragg said: "I saw it on television this morning. Surely it complicates everything. They didn't ask us when they wanted to change the rules.

"People will try and cram everything into small packets - I certainly will."

Mrs Wragg joked: "I will just put on a first class stamp and hope it gets through."

Many people said they would consider switching to text and email rather than using the Post Office in future.

Others said that in the 21 century they never needed to post a letter because of the convenience and ease of electronic forms of communication.

Mum of one Lynsey Freeman, 40, from Bournemouth, said: "I don't use post a lot. I use phone and text. I only use the post office for car tax and you can get that online."

Her friend Stephanie Witt, 40, also from Bournemouth, joked: "When people get used to it they will make the necessary adjustment.

"It's just part of the government conspiracy to confuse us."

Bournemouth call centre manager Chris Waddleton, 24, said he was unaware that a new system had been introduced.

"I didn't even know there was a new system. I didn't know anything about it. But it sounds like it will be more confusing," he said.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said that extra staff had been laid on at post offices across the country to help customers.

She added: "Pricing in Proportion came into effect this morning and we are not experiencing significant problems at Post Offices in the area.

"Our staff have gone through a comprehensive training programme and are helping explain the new system to customers.

"In larger offices we also have extra staff on hand to help customers with any queries.

"The size guide was sent out to all 27 million UK addresses as part of a £10 million publicity campaign to get the message across to customers.

"This was supported by extensive print and broadcast advertisements.

"The leaflet was not addressed so some people could have discarded it without realising what it was."

People who are still confused can get further information from the Royal Mail's dedicated PIP helpline, 08456 113 113, or on the website www.royalmaile.com/size she said.

"We estimate around 80 per cent of items will either remain the same price or be cheaper to send," she added.