diff --git a/django/contrib/localflavor/uk/forms.py b/django/contrib/localflavor/uk/forms.py
index 68e15aac38..52cd7ad232 100644
--- a/django/contrib/localflavor/uk/forms.py
+++ b/django/contrib/localflavor/uk/forms.py
@@ -2,23 +2,39 @@
 UK-specific Form helpers
 """
 
-from django.newforms.fields import RegexField, Select
+import re
+
+from django.newforms.fields import CharField, Select
+from django.newforms import ValidationError
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext
 
-class UKPostcodeField(RegexField):
+class UKPostcodeField(CharField):
     """
     A form field that validates its input is a UK postcode.
 
     The regular expression used is sourced from the schema for British Standard
     BS7666 address types: http://www.govtalk.gov.uk/gdsc/schemas/bs7666-v2-0.xsd
+
+    The value is uppercased and a space added in the correct place, if required.
     """
     default_error_messages = {
-        'invalid': ugettext(u'Enter a postcode. A space is required between the two postcode parts.'),
+        'invalid': ugettext(u'Enter a valid postcode.'),
     }
+    outcode_pattern = '[A-PR-UWYZ]([0-9]{1,2}|([A-HIK-Y][0-9](|[0-9]|[ABEHMNPRVWXY]))|[0-9][A-HJKSTUW])'
+    incode_pattern = '[0-9][ABD-HJLNP-UW-Z]{2}'
+    postcode_regex = re.compile(r'^(GIR 0AA|%s %s)$' % (outcode_pattern, incode_pattern))
+    space_regex = re.compile(r' *(%s)$' % incode_pattern)
 
-    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        super(UKPostcodeField, self).__init__(r'^(GIR 0AA|[A-PR-UWYZ]([0-9]{1,2}|([A-HIK-Y][0-9](|[0-9]|[ABEHMNPRVWXY]))|[0-9][A-HJKSTUW]) [0-9][ABD-HJLNP-UW-Z]{2})$',
-            max_length=None, min_length=None, *args, **kwargs)
+    def clean(self, value):
+        value = super(UKPostcodeField, self).clean(value)
+        if value == u'':
+            return value
+        postcode = value.upper().strip()
+        # Put a single space before the incode (second part).
+        postcode = self.space_regex.sub(r' \1', postcode)
+        if not self.postcode_regex.search(postcode):
+            raise ValidationError(self.default_error_messages['invalid'])
+        return postcode
 
 class UKCountySelect(Select):
     """
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/forms/localflavor/uk.py b/tests/regressiontests/forms/localflavor/uk.py
index d7848f70a8..258c22e5a9 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/forms/localflavor/uk.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/forms/localflavor/uk.py
@@ -12,13 +12,15 @@ u'BT32 4PX'
 >>> f.clean('GIR 0AA')
 u'GIR 0AA'
 >>> f.clean('BT324PX')
-Traceback (most recent call last):
-...
-ValidationError: [u'Enter a postcode. A space is required between the two postcode parts.']
+u'BT32 4PX'
 >>> f.clean('1NV 4L1D')
 Traceback (most recent call last):
 ...
-ValidationError: [u'Enter a postcode. A space is required between the two postcode parts.']
+ValidationError: [u'Enter a valid postcode.']
+>>> f.clean('1NV4L1D')
+Traceback (most recent call last):
+...
+ValidationError: [u'Enter a valid postcode.']
 >>> f.clean(None)
 Traceback (most recent call last):
 ...
@@ -27,7 +29,20 @@ ValidationError: [u'This field is required.']
 Traceback (most recent call last):
 ...
 ValidationError: [u'This field is required.']
-
+>>> f.clean(' so11aa ')
+u'SO1 1AA'
+>>> f.clean(' so1  1aa ')
+u'SO1 1AA'
+>>> f.clean('G2 3wt')
+u'G2 3WT'
+>>> f.clean('EC1A 1BB')
+u'EC1A 1BB'
+>>> f.clean('Ec1a1BB')
+u'EC1A 1BB'
+>>> f.clean(' b0gUS')
+Traceback (most recent call last):
+...
+ValidationError: [u'Enter a valid postcode.']
 >>> f = UKPostcodeField(required=False)
 >>> f.clean('BT32 4PX')
 u'BT32 4PX'
@@ -36,11 +51,9 @@ u'GIR 0AA'
 >>> f.clean('1NV 4L1D')
 Traceback (most recent call last):
 ...
-ValidationError: [u'Enter a postcode. A space is required between the two postcode parts.']
+ValidationError: [u'Enter a valid postcode.']
 >>> f.clean('BT324PX')
-Traceback (most recent call last):
-...
-ValidationError: [u'Enter a postcode. A space is required between the two postcode parts.']
+u'BT32 4PX'
 >>> f.clean(None)
 u''
 >>> f.clean('')