Posties working extra shifts to deliver gifts

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/n ... ticle.html

Internet shoppers are making sure Leicestershire's posties have plenty of work to do before Christmas.

Staff at the Royal Mail delivery office, in Leicester, said online sales had gone crazy, leaving them with more than 2.6 million parcels to deliver.

They are now putting on extra shifts, including Sundays, to make sure everyone gets their presents by Christmas Eve.

The delivery office, in Campbell Street, has seen a 30 per cent increase in the number of packages which need to be collected.

Prakash Tejura, manager of the Royal Mail's Campbell Street caller's office, said: "Internet shopping has gone crazy. The amount of Amazon and Play.com parcels we're getting is unbelievable.

"People are not just sending cards, they are buying kettles, or clothes and bigger items such as that.

"In the last three years, the amount of packages we have here at Christmas has gone up by 30 per cent easily.

"We usually have about 200 people arriving to collect packages which couldn't be delivered.

"In the last few days, we've been getting more than 400."

Royal Mail staff in Leicestershire will deliver 2.6 million extra items a week in the build-up to Christmas.

On an average week, they deliver 9.2 million items, but over Christmas that figure will jump to 11.8 million. More than 260 temporary staff and 19 extra vehicles have been hired to sort and send post to make sure we all get our cards and presents on time.

Dick Allen, 58, who has worked as a postman for 35 years, said: "There's a great spirit here over Christmas and I get a real buzz from it.

"The online orders mean that instead of having one bag on my rounds, I'm taking eight or nine.

"I ordered some presents online which said guaranteed delivery before Christmas. I know that's going to be the case this year because I'm my own postman."

Rob Pelter, delivery sector manager at the office, said: "It's a tough challenge to get everyone's mail out over Christmas.

"We have an extra 250 man-hours to deal with the increase in post.

"We're working six day weeks and much longer days, but it will mean everything gets out on time.

"We're extending the caller's office hours to help more people to pick up their items. It's normally quieter between 9am and 11am and then again from 3pm to about 4.30pm."

Paul Jones, who works in the caller's office, said: "We're unbelievably busy at the moment.

"The office gets nuts at lunchtime with people coming from work to pick up parcels.

"People have been queuing all down the road and it's going to get even busier next week."

The caller's office is open from Monday to Friday, December 19, between 6.30am and 7.30pm, on Saturday, December 20, from 6.30am to 5.30pm and Sunday, December 21, between 2pm and 6pm. The office is also open from 6.30am and 7.30pm on December 22 and 23 and from 6.30am to 5pm on Christmas Eve.

[doorstepper]

well if you did what people pay you to do and deliver the items they wouldn't have to spend their time and petrol going to collect the items.

[Sandyman]

If they were in to receive their items, we would!

[gazzer]

"The online orders mean that instead of having one bag on my rounds, I'm taking eight or nine."

"ONE BAG" guess you don't cut off then!!!!!!!!!