Santa’s gifts hit by mail backlog
MILLIONS of gifts and cards are unlikely to be delivered until after Christmas despite a Royal Mail bid to clear the backlog.
Snow jamming up transport links has left post languishing in sorting offices. Rural parts of the North-east, the North‑west and Scotland are worst hit.
Online retailers are warning customers that orders made now are unlikely to be delivered in time for Christmas.
Amazon says their premium delivery service will be taking Christmas orders only until 11.59 tonight. Dixons, PC World and Currys warn that orders placed now will not arrive for Christmas. Camera chain Jessops said “most new orders can be delivered in one to three days”.
Clothing retailer Asos promises on its website that deliveries will still be made on orders placed before midday on Christmas Eve, if customers pay extra for premium delivery.
Postal workers are expected to make evening deliveries to around two million homes this week to try to clear the backlog.