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Royal Mail takes on 3,000 more staff to beat weather | Royal Mail takes on 3,000 more staff to beat weather |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Royal Mail has said it is committing an extra £20m to cope with deliveries during the severe weather, including recruiting 3,000 temporary staff. | Royal Mail has said it is committing an extra £20m to cope with deliveries during the severe weather, including recruiting 3,000 temporary staff. |
Royal Mail has already taken on 20,000 temporary staff to handle the increased workload at this time of year. | Royal Mail has already taken on 20,000 temporary staff to handle the increased workload at this time of year. |
But weather-related disruption meant more people were needed, as well as 250 extra lorries and 500 HGV drivers. | |
It comes as supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury's halted deliveries to Scotland of groceries ordered online. | It comes as supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury's halted deliveries to Scotland of groceries ordered online. |
Royal Mail said much of the extra resources are being deployed across the North East, Midlands and Scotland, where the snow has been at its worst. | Royal Mail said much of the extra resources are being deployed across the North East, Midlands and Scotland, where the snow has been at its worst. |
Last week, the service apologised to some customers, saying that freezing temperatures meant it was "simply not currently possible" to deliver mail in some cases. | Last week, the service apologised to some customers, saying that freezing temperatures meant it was "simply not currently possible" to deliver mail in some cases. |
Weathermen say it has been the coldest December for 30 years, with snow hitting much of the UK - and with more on the way. | Weathermen say it has been the coldest December for 30 years, with snow hitting much of the UK - and with more on the way. |
In a rare move, Royal Mail delivered on Sunday to about 1 million addresses, mostly in north England and Scoltand. | |
The service frequently operates on the Sunday before Christmas day, but not on the two consecutive Sunday's before 25 December. | |
Royal Mail has also supended its next-day guarantee promise for special deliveries. | |
The organisation expects to handle about 750 million Christmas cards this year, as well as an estimated 165 million items ordered online. | |
The postal service estimates that Monday 13 December will be its busiest day of the festive period, with Royal Mail handling some 130 million cards, letters, and packages. | The postal service estimates that Monday 13 December will be its busiest day of the festive period, with Royal Mail handling some 130 million cards, letters, and packages. |
Back-log | Back-log |
Several other companies have reported delivery problems in Scotland, including Marks and Spencer and online retailer Boden. | Several other companies have reported delivery problems in Scotland, including Marks and Spencer and online retailer Boden. |
Boden's website warns customers: "Heavy snowfall and icy roads mean that deliveries to Scotland are likely to be delayed. Please be patient, we will get your parcels to you as swiftly as possible." | Boden's website warns customers: "Heavy snowfall and icy roads mean that deliveries to Scotland are likely to be delayed. Please be patient, we will get your parcels to you as swiftly as possible." |
On Monday, Tesco Direct stopped taking orders from customers in Scotland because it could not guarantee deliveries in time for Christmas. | On Monday, Tesco Direct stopped taking orders from customers in Scotland because it could not guarantee deliveries in time for Christmas. |
The delivery contractor used by Tesco has a 14-day back-log of parcels. | The delivery contractor used by Tesco has a 14-day back-log of parcels. |
Sainsbury's has also suspended deliveries for Scotland, and Parcel Force took similar action at the weekend. | Sainsbury's has also suspended deliveries for Scotland, and Parcel Force took similar action at the weekend. |
And Marks and Spencer is not accepting any home delivery orders for Scotland while it tries to clear a week-long backlog. | And Marks and Spencer is not accepting any home delivery orders for Scotland while it tries to clear a week-long backlog. |