Parcels and Letters will be delivered by drone for the first time in the UK on the Orkney Islands.

The project between Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services will initially operate for three months, with the intention of extending it in the future.

Post will be transported from Royal Mail’s Kirkwall delivery office to Stromness, from where Skyports Drone Services will conduct drone deliveries to Royal Mail staff on Graemsay and Hoy. From these locations, postal workers will then carry out their usual island delivery routes.

The weather and geography of Orkney can interrupt postal services, with Skyports claiming that the project will significantly reduce delivery times to rural communities, lower emissions and improve safety.

Skyports Drone Services will conduct the inter-island flights with the Speedbird Aero DLV-2 aircraft. The multirotor drone is capable of carrying loads of up to 6kg.

The project was one of nine funded by the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator, which is supported by the Department for Transport.

Skyports received £150,000 in funding to test the service as part of the project.

Rt. Hon. Alistair Carmichael MP for Orkney and Shetland said: “I was glad to attend the drone tests and see their development for myself. Obviously these schemes are still at trial stage and so we should temper our expectations. Even so, anything that helps to maintain the universal service, especially in areas of the isles which are more difficult to reach, is something that we should give a chance to support. Royal Mail remains a critical part of keeping the isles connected – and local knowledge and care are vital to that network.”

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