Families in a seaside resort hit by the worst snowfall in a generation look set to left waiting for Christmas letters and parcels as Royal Mail offices in the area face a "chaotic" situation.

According to the Southport Visiter, the organisation's offices in Kew are facing a "huge backlog" of post after freezing conditions put a stop to deliveries.

While over 470 temporary staff have been taken on to help clear the pile-up of letters and parcels, the newspaper said many households could be left "empty-handed" on Christmas Day.

It added that the town's big freeze has wreaked havoc in the past week, hitting public transport and costing the local economy tens of thousands of pounds.

Elsewhere, the Herald claimed that Christmas cards, letters and parcels posted on Shetland to other addresses on the isles are being sent on a 700-mile round trip to Edinburgh because local sorting offices cannot cope with the backlog of post.  

Author:  Gillian Walters